Chechnya: disbelief in justice and fair trial provokes interest in occultism

The demand for sorcerers' services in Chechnya is dictated by people's disbelief in justice and fair trial, Svetlana Gannushkina, a human rights defender, has stated in her comment on the public scolding of local women detained for providing occult services. Occultism is condemned by Muslims, but believers turn to sorcerers because of distrust in official clergymen, said Ruslan Kutaev, an expert on the Caucasus.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Adam Elzhurkaev, the head of the Centre for Islamic Medicine, had publicly scolded two Chechen women detained for providing occult services.

The demand for sorcerers is dictated by the impossibility of achieving justice by the population of Chechnya, Svetlana Gannushkina, the chair of the "Civic Assistance" Committee*, has stated, adding that the demand for occult services in Chechnya differs from other Russian regions in its scale.

Due to distrust of the official clergy, believers are trying to find alternative sources of "contacting the Lord," Ruslan Kutaev, President of the Assembly of Caucasian Nations, is sure.

"The population believes that Islamic priests work for Russian special services ... It their turn, spiritual are aggressive towards people," Mr Kutaev has added, noting that occultism is condemned by Muslims, but often people who failed to get Imams' support turn to sorcerers.