10 August 2020, 20:00
Chechen residents claim being obliged to take part in subbotnik on border with Dagestan
In the Shelkovsky District of Chechnya, public sector employees complained that participants of a large-scale subbotnik (voluntary clean-up work day) on the border with Dagestan were obliged to wear masks and keep social distancing.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in June, in the Shali District and Grozny, public sector employees claimed being obliged to come to subbotniks while the outside temperature reached 35 °C.
On August 9, involuntary participants of the subbotnik reported that everyone was to come to the clean-up event.
"We were engaged in burning out grass and collecting garbage. As we were told, we had to do all that to prevent forest fires because of the hot weather," said Sultan, an employee of a local enterprise.
"It was very difficult to work, because the weather was extremely hot," noted a teacher of a local school.
"Many people simply removed their masks down to their chins, since it was almost impossible to breathe through the masks because of the hot weather. Of course, no one complied with social distancing of 1.5 meters. While you are working, you cannot watch all your neighbours. Our participation in the subbotnik was 'voluntary-compulsory.' All who are not satisfied 'are asked to quit'," emphasized Musa, an employee of a municipal car company.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on August 10, 2020 at 02:29 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Source: CK correspondent
