07:16, 12 September 2020

Akhmed Zakaev reports release of his detained relatives

Akhmed Zakaev, the head of the government of the self-proclaimed Ichkeria (banned in Russia), said that Chechen law enforcers released his relatives, detained after Zakaev's video appeal in support of the 1ADAT Telegram Channel. He has added that before the incident with Salman Tepsurkaev he had not been the channel's moderator.

Earlier, it was reported on the Instagram that "after Zakaev's provocative statements, his family clan decided to publicly condemn Akhmed Zakaev, who took responsibility for swearing people offending the Chechen people." Social network users have suggested that Zakaev's relatives were forced to speak out against him.

Zakaev insists that the pressure on his relatives has to do with his statement about the public humiliation of Tepsurkaev.

Chechnya makes use of the practice to put pressure on relatives of Chechen emigrants. Thus, in August, Anzor, a son of the President of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, Aslan Maskhadov, who lives in Norway, complained about it.

In May, Ramzan Kadyrov stated that he was ready to forgive the supporters of Chechnya's independence who had emigrated to Europe, if they admit the erroneousness of their views. Thus, Kadyrov hopes to rehabilitate himself in the eyes of the people, Zakaev has noted, adding that "a generation of free people has grown up in Europe." "They are unlikely to put up with what Kadyrov is, with his dictate and humiliation that many Chechens are forced to endure," he has stated.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on September 11, 2020 at 10:38 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.