Ramzan Kadyrov organizes solemn ceremony in Grozny despite quarantine

On March 26, the Chechen TV Channel showed a story about the opening ceremony at the Palace of Arts in Grozny. The authorities of Chechnya organized a solemn ceremony despite their own calls to cancel all mass events. Users of social networks and residents of Chechnya criticized the inconsistent actions of the republic's authorities.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that cases of infection with coronavirus have been identified in Chechnya. Ramzan Kadyrov accused residents of the republic of violating the quarantine and said that coronavirus-infected people deserved to die. The leader of Chechnya ordered to close most cafes, restaurants, cinemas, and concert halls in the republic. Meanwhile, amid their closure Ramzan Kadyrov joked that he had already had the coronavirus infection and recovered.

The authorities of Chechnya organized a large-scale celebration with the participation of several hundred people on the occasion of the opening ceremony at the Palace of Arts in Grozny.

Social network users expressed their astonishment about the conducted ceremony, since on March 23, Ramzan Kadyrov himself wrote in his personal Telegram channel that "no mass events, in particular, wedding parties and banquets" should be held.

Residents of the region expressed their indignation that the opening ceremony at the Palace of Arts had not been postponed.

"The ceremony was attended by senior art workers, who were to stay under home quarantine, and by children," noted local resident Aslan.

The event demonstrated that "the authorities may do everything, while ordinary citizens may not," believes Idris, a resident of the republic.