Instagram users dispute about forcing teens to apologize to Kadyrov

A head of the region should pay no attention to adolescents' offensive posts that appear in social networks, the readers of the Chechen Instagram have pointed out in connection with another public apology to Ramzan Kadyrov. Their opponents, including the plenipotentiary of the head of Chechnya, have called for punishing Kadyrov's offenders with community works.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on May 17, Kadyrov threatened to liquidate the Instagram user for his comment containing the word "shaitan" in relation to Kadyrov. Users responded with a flash mob, which led to a wave of apologies to Kadyrov. A young man from Perm and a teenager from Kabardino-Balkaria have also apologized to the head of Chechnya.

The flash mob dedicated to Kadyrov with the word "shaitan" indicates a public rejection of the practice of public apologies; and the more people support it, the less likely they will be forced to repentance, said Svetlana Gannushkina, the chair of the "Civil Assistance" Committee*.

Residents of Chechnya are regularly asking to pardon them for misconduct and criticism of the authorities; and respective reports are posted or broadcast by the "Grozny" TV Channel. The report of the International Crisis Group entitled "Chechnya: Inner Abroad" and published in June 2015, noted that such apologies resulted from pressure and threats.