14 July 2020, 15:32
Chechen law enforcers actively exploit Vainakh traditions
Father's control, even over an adult son, is consistent with behavioural norms in the Chechen society, while parents' apologies are not treated as shame, experts have noted in their comments to the law enforcers' conversation with young violators of traffic rules and their parents. Akhmet Yarlykapov, a Caucasian historian, treats parents' public repentances for their children's minor offenses as "anecdotal."
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that fathers of the young men, caught by Chechen law enforcers in violation of traffic rules, stated to the camera that they were disgraced by their sons' behaviour. Law enforcers should not have humiliated the parents, local residents have noted.
Mikhail Roschin, an Orientalist, has noted that there is a Chechens' code of ethics called "Kyonakhalla", but it does not state that parents should respond for their children's behaviour.
He also pointed out that often the son's misconduct is more shameful for the father than for the son himself, since the son's behaviour reflects the upbringing he received from his father.
According to Akhmet Yarlykapov, in some circumstances, the father is responsible for his son, regardless of the latter's age; for example, when it comes to murder. However, an adult son is responsible for his minor offences.
"This takes anecdotal forms, when a father takes responsibility for his son's traffic rules violations," said Yarlykapov.
He believes that traffic rules violations have never been on the list of acts for which the fathers were disgraced.
In Chechnya, it's normal to respond for children's actions, when they are 18-19 years old, Alexei Malashenko, the research director of research at the "Civilizations' Dialogue Institute", has added.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on July 14, 2020 at 00:52 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Source: CK correspondents
