Video with oath of allegiance to Kadyrov triggers criticism of MIA deputy head

Residents of Chechnya claim that Apti Alaudinov, a deputy head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Chechnya, violated the etiquette, when he commented on the charges of conspiracy against Ramzan Kadyrov, lying on a sofa with legs.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on October 7, the Telegram channel "SKFO Telegraph"  spread information about an attempt to poison Ramzan Kadyrov. According to the channel, two former Mayors of Chechen cities and a high-ranking law enforcer are suspected of plotting the attempt. After that, Apti Alaudinov, who is also the head of the Chechen police, and Valid Abdureshidov, the head of the administration of the Urus-Martan District, publicly stated that they had not betrayed Ramzan Kadyrov.

Apti Alaudinov recorded his video with assurance of devotion to Kadyrov at home: in the video, he sits with his legs pressed up on the sofa against the wall with a large photograph, in which he is embracing Ramzan Kadyrov. He is dressed in a white tracksuit and a baseball cap.

The Alaudinov's posture fails to meet the importance of the moment and Chechen traditions, residents of the republic and subscribers to the public "ChP Grozny" on the Instagram have noted.

"Is it customary for Chechens to sit like that? Even elderly men don't sit like that in front of others," wrote the user domaevasofiia.

The Alaudinov's posture does not comply with the etiquette, the Chechen residents interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" agreed. "Such imposingness on the part of a man really fails to meet the standards of decency accepted in Chechnya and in the Caucasus as a whole," Salavdi, a local resident, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"The authorities are almost constantly teaching residents of Chechnya how to behave, respect traditions and customs. And at the same time, the high-ranking officials themselves demonstrate such indecent behaviour," said Zalina, a resident of Grozny.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on October 12, 2019 at 02:50 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.