Blogger Tumso Abdurakhmanov pressured for criticizing Chechen authorities

On May 1, on the air of the Chechen TV, relatives of Chechen blogger Tumso Abdurakhmanov, who hided in Poland from persecution, urged him to stop criticizing the Chechen authorities and return to Russia. Local residents remembered cases of persecution of other dissidents in Chechnya.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on April 10, Tumso Abdurakhmanov reported the detention of four of his parents' brothers who were "forced to address him in front of the camera."

Tumso Abdurakhmanov sees the reason for his persecution in Russia in his conflict with a top-ranking relative of the leader of Chechnya.

Salambek Khasarov, an uncle of the blogger, has called him on to stop criticizing the authorities of Chechnya. "Do not say the lie. Come back home," he said.

"You criticize the Padishah (Ramzan Kadyrov, – note of the 'Caucasian Knot'). Meanwhile, nobody but him would restore our republic in the way it enjoys now... You create problems not for yourself, but for us," added another relative of Tumso Abdurakhmanov.

Authors of the TV story have explained that "after escaping to the West and finding his own masters, Tumso Abdurakhmanov actively, but clumsily defames the authorities of the republic and insult its residents."

Criticism of the Chechen authorities "is punished very severely," local resident Aslambek admitted.

People of Chechnya repeatedly refused their statements and complaints against the authorities.