Constant stream of public apologies devalues their significance for natives of Dagestan

Public apologies made en mass have led to the fact that remorse has become insincere and is perceived as a tribute to fashion. This was noted by experts interviewed by the “Caucasian Knot”.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on January 16, a video was posted on the Internet in which a native of Dagestan, emphasizing his nationality, showered insults and bad words on bus passengers in Moscow. The young man recorded a short video in which he apologized for his words, and then his parents also apologized for the incident.

Ruslan Gereev, Director of the Centre for Islamic Studies of Northern Caucasus, believes there is nothing wrong with the practice of apologies. “But the mass enthusiasm with condemnation [has led to the fact that the apologies] are devoid of sincerity: it has become a tribute to fashion lately,” Ruslan Gereev told the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent.

Political analyst Albert Esedov, the leader of the Dagestani branch of the “Yabloko” Party, told the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent that it was always the norm to apologize in society if a person realized that he or she was wrong. “Being outside the republic, natives of Dagestan become participants in provocations, react incorrectly to external stimuli, or actually break the law, and then apologize. But this is no longer perceived by society as sincere act,” Albert Esedov said.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on January 21, 2022 at 02:05 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.