Visit of Kadyrov's daughter to Paris gives rise to scepticism among Chechen refugees

Amid human rights violations in Chechnya, Aishat Kadyrova's participation in a fashion show in Paris looks strange, Chechen refugees believe. In the opinion of Sasha Kulaeva, a rights defender, and Galina Akerman, a publicist, this visit was devised as a sort of rehabilitation of what is happening in Chechnya.

On February 25, 2020, as part of the Russian Seasons festival in Paris, the first fashion show of the Chechen brand "Firdaus" was held under direction of Aishat Kadyrova, Ramzan's daughter.

Two Chechen refugees in Paris expressed their concern over this fashion show, indicating, however, that Chechens did not openly protest against it, fearing for their safety.

Zarema, a refugee, told the "Caucasian Knot" that she is concerned about the source of the money to finance the fashion shows. According to her story, she ended up in France because in 2000, her 18-year-old son disappeared; and her brother, nephew and sister were killed.

Galina Akerman, a Parisian publicist, a girlfriend and translator of Anna Politkovskaya's books, has noted that this event in Paris was made possible within the framework of the democratic society that needs clear proofs of Kadyrov's involvement in any illegal actions.

Anne Le, a Nanterre University researcher, did not rule out that the presence of people close to the leadership of Chechnya, under the pretext of showing Islamic fashion, could be aimed at controlling Chechen Diasporas abroad.