Chechen authorities boast about activities of public sector employees on social networking services

Over the past three months, more than 23.7 million reactions and comments have been left under the posts organized by the Chechen authorities on social networking services.

As part of the above activities, “responses to fake and provocative posts are also being published.” “Such a mechanism helps control the public’s reaction to events in the region and beyond,” states the report of the Chechen Ministry for National Policy, External Relations, Press, and Information.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that in September 2023, several officials from Chechnya reported that the republic’s ministries were obliging their employees to “like” and comment on ministries’ publications. Some of the public sector employees left hundreds of “likes” under official publications. In addition, employees of public institutions are obliged to write comments on departmental publications.

The authorities of Chechnya have repeatedly organized online flash mobs in support of officials. So, in response to a petition demanding the resignation of Ramzan Kadyrov, his assistant launched a flash mob on social networking services under the hashtag #I’mKadyrov’sinfantryman.

In July 2020, the Chechen authorities initiated a flash mob on social networking services in support of Ramzan Kadyrov, who fell under new US sanctions. The management of public institutions obliges employees under threat of dismissal to register on social networking services and publish photos with the hashtag #We’reKRA’sfamily, public sector employees state.

In March 2018, the authorities of Chechnya demanded from residents of the republic post entries on social networking services about their willingness to vote at the presidential election. Employees of public institutions then spoke about the forced nature of participation in the above action.