11:16, 16 December 2019

Social network users support Sokurov in dispute with Kadyrov

Alexander Sokurov (left) and Ramzan Kadyrov Collage prepared by the Caucasian Knot. Photo: REUTERS/Tobias Schwarz/Pool, REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

The courage of the film director, Alexander Sokurov, who sharply answered Ramzan Kadyrov about rethinking the title of Hero of Russia, was praised by social network users. Kadyrov will never receive Sokurov's apologies, they believe.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on December 14, Alexander Sokurov sharply commented on Ramzan Kadyrov's reaction to the call to rethink the status of the title of Hero of Russia, which the head of Chechnya himself had been endowed with. According to Sokurov, Chechnya adopts laws that are contrary to the Constitution of the Russian Federation, while residents of the Caucasian regions should master self-criticism.

On December 10, film director Alexander Sokurov invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to "review the status" of the title of Hero of Russia. The film director noted that both the leader of Chechnya and the Pskov paratroopers killed in a battle with Basaev's militants were awarded the status of Hero of Russia. The Russian President objected that a person who "sided with Russia" deserved the Hero of Russia award. Alexander Sokurov admitted that he was upset by the President Putin's response.

The remote verbal dispute of Sokurov with Kadyrov aroused broad resonance in social networks. After Sokurov's answer, some netizens have concluded that the head of Chechnya had expected traditional public apologies from Sokurov, which never happened.

"He couldn't force him to apologize for what was said," Irina Kisheva wrote on the page of "The Other Nalchik" group in the Facebook.

"Kadyrov raises this issue up to the rank of the all-Chechen one, while Sokurov had in mind Kadyrov himself and his minions. This suggests that Sokurov is right in essence, and Kadyrov is hiding behind the people because he has nothing to answer," Beslan Shkhanokov has stated.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on December 16, 2019 at 01:50 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.