Daudov's words sparked a debate on social media about the extent of what is acceptable for tourists.

Some social media users supported Daudov's position that tourists need to improve their own appearance before criticizing them. Others pointed out that tourists are obligated to respect the traditions inherent to the region.

As "Caucasian Knot" wrote, passersby criticizing tourists for their appearance in Chechnya is entirely appropriate, users of a Chechen public group stated after a video of men walking down the street in shorts. Others objected, Hotels and the Ministry of Tourism should monitor tourists' behavior.

During an extended meeting, Chechen Prime Minister Magomed Daudov drew residents' attention to the need to respect local cultural norms before making comments to tourists.

"We have no right to ask a person of another nationality and religion who has just left the airport to wear a long dress or a headscarf. But we need to educate tourists that our mentality does not welcome indecent behavior. "Before we criticize tourists, we need to make many improvements within ourselves. We shouldn't be held responsible for people of a different nationality and religion," Chechnya Today quoted him as saying on January 30.

The head of Chechnya had previously voiced a similar position. "It's good that people come to us. And the fact that some of them wear whatever they want doesn't make us feel any better. I don't think we should discriminate against tourists or be overly obsessed with their appearance. We welcome everyone. And if they behave too provocatively, we can simply explain to them that that's not the custom here," TASS quoted Ramzan Kadyrov as saying during the annual Direct Line on December 14, 2025.

Social media users debated restrictions for tourists

Record A post about Daudov's speech on the Chechnya Segodnya* Instagram page, which has 620,000 followers, had garnered 365 comments by 9:12 p.m. Moscow time.

Some users opposed any restrictions on tourists.

"We live in a secular state! This is written in the fundamental law. And pointing out that this is not accepted in your region should be done politely, and that's all you have the right to do," wrote user egatatr2.

"Tourists don't owe you anything. They'll come and go," commented ddt_shatoy.

"As stated above, tourists will come and go. I've never seen provocatively dressed tourists. Where have you seen them?" added haves555.

Some commentators believe that tourists should take into account the specifics of the region, in who come.

"If I see inappropriate behavior or image from tourists, I will make a remark, just like they do, to my regions in relation to our brothers and sisters," noted _ali_095.

"Tourists should, or rather, are obliged to respect the customs and traditions of the people they come to visit," said mariyaaronovna, who noted that 10 children live in Grozny.

"Two girls were standing in the center, smoking. Is that normal? Or was there a girl with a completely bare back in the summer? Where is the line between what is allowed and what is not?" - zara_samik asked.

"I saw how our guys approached both girls and boys and explained that we can't dress like that. However, I myself wouldn't have dared to go up to them and say so," writes vse_prosto__5.

The issue of dress code for tourists is regularly raised in Chechnya

"Caucasian Knot" also wrote that the Ministry of Tourism Chechnya's Ministry of Tourism regularly reminds tourists of the republic's rules of conduct and dress codes. In 2019, for example, the ministry issued a guide outlining dress codes for visitors to the republic, as well as regulating interactions with local women and smoking. Women were advised to avoid revealing clothing and dress as modestly as possible, while men were instructed to avoid shorts and sleeveless shirts. In July 2022, the Chechen Ministry of Tourism again published rules of conduct for tourists in the republic on its Instagram* page. Some Instagram* users agreed that tourists in Chechnya should adhere to the republic's customs, including wearing modest clothing. Tourists can dress as they please, and local residents themselves don't always follow these rules, other commentators countered.

There are no laws in Chechnya prohibiting tourists from wearing shorts or see-through clothing, and adat do not apply to tourists. Political scientists and a representative of the muftiate interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" indicated that creating tourist zones would address local residents' dissatisfaction with the republics' non-compliance with the rules of conduct.