Makhachkala drivers complain about mass detentions

In Makhachkala, drivers reported about mass detentions for violation of self-isolation regime. Law enforcers arranged checkpoints at the entries to villages and towns in Dagestan.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on March 31, Dagestani leader Vladimir Vasiliev signed a decree on self-isolation. According to the decree, starting from April 1, a person may leave home only to seek urgent medical help, make purchases at the nearest shop or pharmacy, take out garbage, or walk a dog within a radius of 100 meters from home.

In Makhachkala, drivers reported about mass detentions for violations of the high alert regime. "Today, about 100-200 drivers were brought to the Soviet ROVD (District Interior Division) for failure to comply with the regime <...>. They were brought all together, no matter there is a situation of the pandemic," said one of the drivers as quoted by the newspaper "Chernovik" (Draft).

On April 2, users of social network and instant messengers began disseminating audio messages announcing orders for law enforcers to stop drivers in Makhachkala, draw up reports of administrative violations against people moving around the city, and deliver them to police stations. The press service of the Dagestani Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) called those messages "fake news." Meanwhile, the Dagestani MIA confirmed the authorities' instructions to secure the fulfilment of the Dagestani leader's decree, ordering citizens not to leave their homes, the "Novoe Delo" (New Cause) reports.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on April 2, 2020 at 06:02 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.