Residents of Chechnya criticize Suleimanov's appeal to tighten self-isolation

The appeal of Elkhan Suleimanov, the Chechen Minister of Public Health, to tighten the self-isolation regime has found no support among residents of the republic.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on April 27, Ramzan Kadyrov announced a step-by-step lifting of restrictions in Chechnya, but on April 29, he ordered to tighten control over citizens' movement due to violations of self-isolation regime.

On May 13, Minister Suleimanov announced the need to strengthen the self-isolation regime in the Instagram page of his ministry, noting that "it's the only way to stop the spread of coronavirus."

The minister's statement was critically perceived by many social network users.

"It was said that after May 15, it will be possible to go out. We must end this without delay; otherwise soon everyone will go crazy. Cancel the quarantine," the user halima__125 has urged, whose post was translated by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"But what should patients with other diseases do, who can't, due to the quarantine, reach doctors?! For example, I need a neurologist; I have headaches, but I can't get treatment because of the quarantine," the user recepty_fati has complained.

The residents of Chechnya interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent have also negatively perceived Elkhan Suleimanov's words regarding the tightening of the self-isolation regime.

"Well, for how much can they tighten it? For two months already people can't get out of their apartments. Children have really become nervous, to say nothing about the immunity. They can easily catch a cold or flu right now; what do authorities think about?" asked Kheda, a woman from Grozny, a medic by background.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on May 14, 2020 at 10:40 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.