Blogger detained in Dagestan after criticism from republic head

Sergey Melikov, the head of Dagestan, stood up for a doctor from Khasavyurt, who had faced threats and attacks after a misunderstanding during examination of a patient wearing a niqab. After Melikov's criticism, law enforcers detained the blogger Khadjimurad Khanov, who had earlier demanded from the doctor's bosses to apologize, sources report.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on June 29, a video appeared in social networks, in which a doctor from the Khasavyurt clinic apologized to a patient wearing a niqab. She explained that a misunderstanding arose between her and the girl, as a result of which the girl decided that she was denied medical examination because of her religious clothes.

Sergey Melikov, the head of Dagestan, has condemned those attacking the doctor from Khasavyurt who had apologized to the patient wearing a niqab.

"Why did he (the blogger) decide that he has the right, on the basis of subjective facts, to insult a woman who was doing her job? Who gave the right to threaten and stigmatize a person who, by the way, has nothing against Muslims? I fully support the doctor in this situation and guarantee her protection," Mr Melikov wrote in his Telegram channel.

According to the source, law enforcers detained blogger Khadjimurad Khanov (Ataev), the "Youth of Dagestan" newspaper wrote in its Telegram channel. He had demanded from the owner of the Khasavyurt clinic to oblige the doctor to make a public apology. After this demand, a video with her apology was posted in social networks, the "Kommersant" has explained.