Chechen public sector employees report coercion to voting

In Chechnya, public sector employees claim that their chiefs require them to report with photos about the participation in the voting on amendments to the Constitution of Russia.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in the period from June 25 to July 1, in Russia, people are voting on amendments to the Constitution. A change in the Constitution of Russia is needed to preserve the state, declares the leader of Chechnya. Ramzan Kadyrov calls on to make Vladimir Putin the lifetime president of Russia. Ramzan Kadyrov himself would benefit from the lifetime presidency of Vladimir Putin, Instagram users note.

In Chechnya, directors of the public sector institutions require their subordinates to submit a confirmation of participation in the voting by presenting photos from polling stations, public sector employees report. "Our chiefs have issued strict instructions that we must take part in the voting on the amendments to the Constitution of Russia. To confirm a visit to a polling station, an employee must take a photo on the spot," claims Umar, an employee of a public sector institution in Chechnya.

Teacher Elina reported that she had to register a page on Instagram for reporting on the voting. "We were obliged to make a photo at a polling station and post it to Instagram with a comment reading: 'I vote for the Constitution'," the teacher said.