In Chechnya, authorities use fight against alcohol consumption for PR, analysts believe

The Chechen authorities use public condemnation of people who drink alcoholic beverages to demonstrate protection of Muslim values, believe experts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot". They do not rule out that such measures can lead to the growth of drug addicts in the region.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that law enforcers detained residents of the Kurchaloi District for drinking alcoholic beverages and using psychotropic drugs. On October 19, the detention was followed by a "preventive conversation" at a building of the ROVD (District Interior Division).

Such actions by the Chechen authorities are a demonstration of the protection of Muslim values in the region, believes Mikhail Roschin, Senior Researcher at the Institute of Oriental Studies at the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS).

"They just want to show the power has actually a pronounced Muslim character there, since the Muslim values are very important for the leader of Chechnya," Mikhail Roschin told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Persecution of people for alcohol consumption and prohibition of alcoholic beverages are a norm of Sharia, notes Ruslan Kutaev, the president of the Assembly of Caucasian Nations. Meanwhile, he expressed his bewilderment at the fact that such norms are popular in the region, where the authorities once fought against the establishment of the Sharia rule.

Human rights defender Aset Malsagova believes that the ban on consumption of alcoholic beverages by the population often leads to the risk of the growth of drug addicts. "I think it's a difficult question [whether a total ban on the consumption of alcoholic beverages will be introduced]. However, I know one thing for sure: the ban on alcoholic beverages increases the risk of the growth in consumption of drugs," Aset Malsagova told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on October 22, 2019 at 06:59 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.