10:28, 6 October 2018

Protesters in Magas find support among Instagram users

Protest rallies in Magas. Photo courtesy of Yakub Gogiev for the "Caucasian Knot"

The accounts in the Instagram that support opponents of changing the Chechen-Ingush border are more popular than the pro-government page in this social network. The most popular post in support of Magas protesters has gathered over 14,600 pageviews, including 1461 "likes", while the account, supporting the authorities has hidden its visiting rate, and the most popular entry there about the protests has gathered only 46 "likes".

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that since October 4, participants of the endless protest against changing the Chechen-Ingush border are present in the square in front of Ingush Parliament in the capital, the city of Magas. On October 5, thousands of Muslims gathered there for their Friday namaz (prayer). According to sources, at night on October 6, from 370 to over 1000 people were still in the square.

On October 4, the participants of the spontaneous rally declared that the issue of the republic's border should be brought to a referendum; and Yunus-Bek Evkurov should resign.

The protesters who stay in Alania Square in Magas said that in Ingushetia, mobile Internet does not work for two days, and activists have to search for Wi-Fi networks.

A lot of posts are published in social networks, telling about the events in the protesters' camp.

On October 5, activist Bekkhan Khashagulgov told about how residents of Ingushetia support the protesters by handing clothes and food over to them.

The records of the prayer in the square is also arousing interest among social network users.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on October 5, 2018 at 06:47 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: Umar Yovloy

Source: CK correspondent