In Ukraine, Kadyrov people try to use total check tactics

In Ukraine, Chechen militaries are studying the content of refugees' smartphones, one of them reported in a video posted on Ramzan Kadyrov's Telegram channel. Checking photos and correspondence is a common practice in Chechnya, and Kadyrov people have used it in Ukraine, the experts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" have pointed out.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on February 26, Ramzan Kadyrov announced that Chechen fighters had gone to Ukraine to execute Vladimir Putin’s orders and protect the Ukrainian people. On March 2, the leader of Chechnya promised to put an end to combatants in Ukraine who call themselves Chechens and oppose the Russian troops.

On March 3, a video was posted on the Telegram channel of the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, showing militaries with Saint George ribbons on their military uniform; civilians are walking towards them. One of the servicemen asked them: "Where are you from?" The civilians answered, after which the military said: "Your phones need to be checked; we have been bombed and shelled for four days because of this."

Further, the militaries escort the civilians along the street; then some basement is shown with several dozen people in civilian clothes.

"Ukrainian refugees are fleeing en masse from Bandera's oppression. They are also found in large numbers on the way of our detachments. On these footages, they are assisted by fighters led by our dear brother, commander Khusein Mezhidov. Our guys find a shelter for them, and place them in a safe location," Ramzan Kadyrov wrote in a post on his Telegram channel accompanying the video.

Svetlana Gannushkina, the chair of the "Civic Assistance" Committee*, has drawn parallels with propaganda on federal TV channels. "This is what the federal Russian TV channels declare. An absolute repetition that, they say, 'we'll save them; they'll welcome us with flowers'," she told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

The footage with the military's about the need to check civilians' phones confirms the usual practice in Chechnya of checking the content of correspondence and photos with the subsequent identification of those objectionable to the regime, Ms Gannushkina has noted.

Alexei Malashenko, a political analyst, has doubted the sincerity of Chechen law enforcers in the video. "To understand what is really happening, you have to be there and see real proofs. What I see is a lie from beginning to end. Whom have Chechens come to save and from whom? I don't believe," Mr Malashenko told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

He has noted that the military's words about checking phones indicate that such a practice is common in Chechnya. "This is an attempt to transfer Kadyrov's traditions to Ukraine," Alexei Malashenko has stressed.

*The organization has been put by the Russian Ministry of Justice into the register of non-commercial organizations performing the functions of a foreign agent.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on March 4, 2022 at 06:01 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.