Anti-tint raids fuel fear in Chechnya

The actions of armed special forces soldiers in tinted cars during roadside raids in Chechnya create constant tension and once again remind residents of the double standards in place in the republic, human rights activists noted. 

As reported by the " Caucasian Knot ," in late November, members of the "Akhmat" special police unit and members of the "Dostum K-13" unit conducted a joint raid on Chechen roads, removing window tints from cars. Social media users indicated that such raids fall under the jurisdiction of the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate (GIBDD). Published videos indicate that the security forces themselves arrived for the raid in cars with tinted windows.

Users who commented on the actions of Chechen security forces on the roads during the "anti-tint" raid were right to claim hypocrisy, Chechen political scientist Ruslan Kutayev * believes.

"This is hypocrisy towards the people. These actions are aimed at preventing the people, who are under the pressure of oppression and fear, from relaxing. Such actions cannot be justified by security considerations; they are not being done for the safety of the population; on the contrary, they are being done to terrorize the population. Under no circumstances should we allow the people to relax, so such raids must be preventative," he explained to the "Caucasian Knot" the Chechen authorities' rationale. 

According to Kutayev*, these raids can be considered a clear example of the double standards operating in Chechnya. "On the one hand, they're removing window tints from ordinary people's cars, but their tinted cars are parked nearby. Ordinary people see this and feel humiliated. They're showing that not everyone is equal in Chechnya. They simply don't consider the consequences of such behavior in the future. If the time comes, the people will treat them very badly, and no one will be able to stop this process," the political scientist believes.

Residents of Chechnya are experiencing many problems and unpleasant emotions in connection with such raids, noted Adam, administrator of the Chechen opposition Telegram channel . 

"Traveling anywhere becomes extremely uncomfortable; the constant presence of armed men creates an atmosphere of tension. Although, it would seem, why is it necessary to fight so loudly and with such force against window tinting, which is partially permitted under Russian law? Just compare how raids are conducted in any Russian region with how they are conducted here. In Russia, you almost never see fully equipped, armed with assault rifles, patrolling the roads alongside traffic police. But in Chechnya, even raids to detect window tinting involve officers who, in theory, are involved in assaults or other military operations. They need to instill fear in the population by constantly displaying weapons and aggression. They don't know how to gain trust and loyalty any other way," he told the "Caucasian Knot."

Such actions have no connection to security concerns, Adam emphasized. "They're trying to create a distinction: to put it bluntly, ordinary people don't have window tinting, and this sets them apart (from those close to the authorities) both within Chechnya itself and when traveling abroad. Double standards are the hallmark of the Russian regime, and they manifest it in everything: in their supposed fight against drug addiction, in calls to serve in the front, and, of course, in the issue of window tinting. No Russian laws are enforced in Chechnya—this is a long-known fact, which suits the FSB perfectly. People have become accustomed to such hypocrisy and don't pay much attention to it. The Russian government, represented by Kadyrov, has lost respect and authority in the eyes of the majority of the population," he concluded.

Svetlana Gannushkina, head of the Civic Assistance Committee*, also considers such actions by security forces hypocritical. "This is, of course, hypocritical. Citizens understand well that security forces are allowed to do anything: interfere with the jurisdiction of other government agencies, with education, even with healthcare and family life. This is the current standard in the Chechen Republic: force rules all, it owns everything. The rest don't even have the law, they just obey," she told the "Caucasian Knot."

The human rights activist noted that the authorities can justify virtually any illegal measure with security concerns. "But these actions have nothing to do with ensuring security; otherwise, they would have started with themselves. They simply want to show that they are doing what they want. Their goal is to demonstrate their authority and renew the inoculation of fear and obedience," she noted.

Such raids create an atmosphere of total control and fear in the daily lives of Chechens, confirmed a human rights activist familiar with local realities. 

"People are afraid to argue with law enforcement, even if they're right, because any resistance can have serious consequences, from being served a summons to causing problems for the entire family. Drivers shouldn't be allowed to drive with tinted windows while law enforcement officers use them with impunity. This demeans people's dignity and reinforces the feeling of powerlessness when law enforcement agencies perform functions that are not their proper function as traffic police. This is perceived as a demonstration of power and arbitrary rule," he told the "Caucasian Knot."

He stated that double standards in Chechnya have long been commonplace. "Security forces arriving in tinted cars to fine ordinary people for tinting their windows—you couldn't imagine a more glaring example of 'the law isn't for everyone.' An unspoken hierarchy has long existed in Chechnya: security forces, officials, and those close to Kadyrov can do anything, while ordinary citizens can do nothing. Window tinting, license plates, speeding—all of this is permitted for 'insiders' and forbidden for 'outsiders.' And they explain it all away as security measures, although no security considerations justify it. The Akhmat and Dostum K-13 special forces units are supposed to combat terrorism and serious crime, not remove window tinting. That's what the traffic police are for," the human rights activist pointed out.

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