Chechens report conflict on Dagestani border after Kadyrov's words about Imam Shamil

WhatsApp users have told about a brawl of Dagestanis and Chechen on the republics' border. In Dagestan, the residents of Chechnya who visited the neighbouring republic, have felt the worsened attitude to them after Ramzan Kadyrov criticized Imam Shamil.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on the 20th anniversary of the Chechen militants' invasion into Dagestan, Ramzan Kadyrov drew a parallel between these events and the 19th century Caucasian War and accused Imam Shamil of repressions against Chechens for their unwillingness to confront Russia. On August 8, in Makhachkala, several dozen people came to the Avar Theatre to protest against Kadyrov's words about Imam Shamil. The action caused Kadyrov's discontent. People who continue writing "twaddle and nonsense" on the Internet should come to their senses so that not to initiate war against them, Ramzan Kadyrov said in his recent video message.

On August 17, users of the Messenger in Chechnya disseminated several audio messages, the authors of which told about the Dagestanis-Chechens conflict. "As they say, yesterday, on the bridge at the Gerzel checkpoint, there was a brawl of our guys with Dagestanis. Ours were beaten up; one was thrown down from the bridge. He was under intensive care yesterday; this morning he died, they say. Now, there has just been tezet (commemoration) in Khosi-Yurt," said the author of an audio message, translated by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"Now, because of this, they asked no to come to Khasavyurt," said a woman in another audio message, also translated by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Residents of Chechnya, who visited Dagestan after Kadyrov's statement, also noted the increased hostility to them of residents of the neighbouring republic.

"Some of my friends and acquaintances have warned me for the time being not to travel to Dagestan; as they say, after Ramzan's statement, the attitude to Chechens is unfriendly there," a resident of Chechnya named Zaurbek told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on August 18, 2019 at 01:45 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.