Parents of teens from North Ossetia apologize for their jokes on Internet

The press service of Sergey Menyailo, the head of North Ossetia, has posted an apology of the parents of the teenagers who had filmed a video mocking those mobilized. Some social network users have sympathized with the parents; others demanded that the teens be publicly punished.

Mr Menyailo had a meeting with the parents of the teenagers who had recorded the above video aimed at discrediting the Russian Armed Forces. It is reported that in the video they "obscenely ridicule militaries" and "mocker at those mobilized." After the video went viral in social media, the teens began receiving threats.

"I honestly never expected from my son, I didn't even think that he was capable of this ... I offer my deepest apologies to all the people," says one of the men in the video.

"I'm so ashamed not only in front of the people of Ossetia," another man has stated.

A number of Instagram* users have sympathized with the parents. "God forbid occurring in the shoes of these parents. One has a son who serves (in the army), while the other son has disgraced him. Such kids can grow up even with most correct parents," the user clothing_store_vld_ has written.

Some commentators have noted that the teens themselves should have apologized.

*On March 21, 2022, the Tverskoi Court of Moscow banned the activities in Russia of the Meta Company, owning the Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, in connection with extremist activities.