Human rights defenders criticize Ramzan Kadyrov for refusing to wear a mask

Being the leader of the region, Ramzan Kadyrov should set an example for residents of Chechnya and comply with the mask regime, note human rights defenders interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot".

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the demand to wear a mask in public places has been in effect in Chechnya for four months; and the authorities are strictly enforcing this regime. However, the head of Chechnya himself and his entourage have repeatedly demonstrated disregard for the mask regime, which causes outrage in the republic.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the leaders of the region should "demonstrate enhanced responsibility" and comply with the instructions issued by the "Rospotrebnadzor" (Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare) concerning the fight against the coronavirus infection, believes Oleg Orlov, a member of the board of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial".

"And in Chechnya, officials rushes from side to side. One day, they demand from local residents to strictly observe the requirements of the sanitary and epidemiological services (and this is a right demand!). Then on the other day, they themselves violate those requirements. The fact that the leader of the republic publicly violates the requirement of the mask regime is a sign to a wide circle of people that this is permissible," the human rights defender told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on October 2, 2020 at 11:28 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.