Coercion is main factor in family reunification in Chechnya

In Chechnya, family reunification takes place under pressure and is often traumatic for those who decide to divorce, said Saida Sirazhudinova, the president of the Centre for Studying Global Contemporary Issues and Regional Problems "Caucasus. World. Development", and Aida Mirmaksumova, a co-founder of the "Fathers and Daughters" project.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in July 2017, by an order of the head of Chechnya, commissions were set up to resolve family conflicts. Local residents doubted the strength of the marriages restored at authorities' demand.

Since 2017, a total of 2359 divorced couples have been reunited in Chechnya, the "Chechnya Today" News Agency has reported in its Telegram channel.

"There are difficult situations when it is impossible to live together. In most cases, this is coercion. Thousands of families cannot divorce without a reason and be really ready to overcome all their grievances, misunderstanding and disappointment," Saida Sirazhudinova has stated.

According to her story, reunification should be an independent intention of both parties. She has added that after a divorce, children do not always stay with their father's family.

"This is violence against a person ... We are talking about Chechnya, where there is Ramzan Kadyrov's opinion and others ... Everyone is afraid of Kadyrov, regardless of whether one is a woman or a man," Ms Mirmaksumova has stated.

A female activist of an organization that works to protect women's rights in Northern Caucasus admits that reunification increases the time the mother spends with her children.