Social media users support participants of protest at market in Grozny

The authorities of Chechnya perceive all protests as disloyalty, and therefore, an open expression of dissatisfaction with the increase in rent at the Berkat market is a bold step for which entrepreneurs are threatened with reprisals. This was stated by social media users.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on December 10, several dozen women took part in an action to protest against a sharp increase in rent for places at the Grozny market “Berkat”. Such protest activity is perceived by the Chechen authorities as a real threat, says Ruslan Kutaev, the president of the Assembly of Caucasian Nations. The Chechen authorities will be forced to punish those responsible, because in this case, massive coercion to apologize will play against the authority of Ramzan Kadyrov, political analyst Alexei Malashenko suggests.

YouTube and Instagram users treat the protest action at the market as an act of bravery.

On the contrary, in their comments on the “Caucasian Knot” website, users considered the protest action an ordinary event. “Well, they came out to protest against the increase in rent. It is an ordinary thing. The problem should be solved not by Ramzan Kadyrov, but by the owner of the market,” wrote a reader with nickname Active.

Even with a sharp deterioration in the socio-economic situation, there will be no major protests in Chechnya, reader tam.rolfson believes. “Every action will be stopped immediately and in the most brutal way,” the reader noted.