Social network users criticize authorities for organizing a gathering in Akhmat-Yurt

A gathering was held in Akhmat-Yurt, a native village of Ramzan Kadyrov. Participants of the gathering, including top-ranking officials and law enforcers, adopted a resolution condemning Akhmed Zakaev and other critics of the Chechen authorities. Instagram users doubted that local residents took part in the gathering by their own will.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that meetings with the condemnation of Akhmed Zakaev, the head of government of the self-proclaimed Ichkeria (banned in Russia) began in Chechnya after he stood up for the humiliated Salman Tepsurkaev.

On September 16, a gathering of local residents was held in Akhmat-Yurt, the native village of the leader of Chechnya, with the participation of top-ranking officials and law enforcers. At the gathering, participants condemned critics of the Chechen authorities who had left for Europe. A report covering the gathering was broadcasted in the evening news of the "Grozny" state-run TV Company. According to an author of the TV report, residents of Chechnya were dissatisfied with statements voiced by "escapee Zakaev and his henchmen," and people "went to protest" in the native village of the republic's leader. The participants of the gathering adopted the resolution condemning Akhmed Zakaev and his associates.

Some readers of the Instagram public account of the "Grozny TV" left sceptical comments under the post with the report about the gathering. "I do not believe that you came to the rally by your won will. He (Akhmed Zakaev, – note of the 'Caucasian Knot') does not tell you anything. On the contrary, he said what you are afraid to say," user asolda55 noted.

Social network users also left critical comments under the post with the report on the public account "ChP. Grozny". "It seems to me that the TV report shows captured local men driven there by force," wrote, in particular, user denisvostrotin80.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on September 17, 2020 at 12:05 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.