In Chechnya, public sector employees describe ways to evade role of fans of "Akhmat" FC

Public sector employees, who were obliged to visit a match of the "Akhmat" FC on August 31, were able to leave the stadium before the match after registration by a supervisor. Some residents of Chechnya, indifferent to football, convinced their friends to go to the match instead of them.

Malika, an employee of a Grozny school, said she asked her neighbour's son to go to the match instead of her.

Mansur, an employee of a public sector enterprise, said that he together with his two acquaintances was registered by a supervisor and went home immediately after that. He confirmed that his institution was required to send "a certain number of people" to attend the match.

Let us remind you that according to residents of Chechnya, a refusal to attend football matches threatens public sector employees with dismissal, and students with expulsion from institutions of higher education.

"It is a common practice to oblige employees under the threat of dismissal to participate in rallies, matches of the 'Akhmat' FC, and other events where masses of people are required," said writer Rizvan Ibragimov.

Ruslan Kutaev, the chairman of the "Assembly of Caucasian Nations", also reported on the practice when public sector employees were obliged to attend matches of the "Akhmat" FC.

Only Chechnya has the practice to oblige public sector employees and students to attend different events as fans," noted sports Alexei Durnovo, an observer of the "Ekho Moskvy" Radio Station.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on September 2, 2019 at 10:37 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.