Kadyrov’s night call

The head of Chechnya found the author of an unpleasant commentary and ... just talked

Last Monday, the Governor of the Moscow Region Andrei Vorobyov in his Instagram congratulated the head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov on the birth of his son. In the evening of the same day, in the comments under this congratulation, the municipal deputy of the City District of Chernogolovka, journalist Boris Echmaev wrote: “What an abomination. It is unfortunate that you have to do it. ”

As Boris Echmaev explained to Novaya Gazeta, he was guided by certain ideas about the norms of public policy, according to which he considered it necessary to express his opinion in this way: “The public politician, which is the governor of the region, should not bring his personal sympathies to his social blog (Instagram Vorobyova really highlights his professional activities, congratulations of other Russian politicians on the birth of children during the runaway The study could not be found in this instructure - E. M. ). And if Mr. Vorobyov wanted to show respect for Ramzan Kadyrov (as it turned out later - a longtime friend, whom Vorobyov also congratulated on the phone. - E. M. ), he could choose more private forms for this. A public Russian politician should take into account that in society the reputation of Ramzan Kadyrov and his environment is ambiguous, otherwise he risks causing his actions to be an appropriate reaction. ”

The moment for congratulations in such a demonstrative form was really not entirely successful. Recently, the head of Chechnya became a defendant in several scandalous stories. This week it became known about the attack on the 16-year-old daughter of the President of the Union of Mixed Martial Arts of MMA Russia Fedor Emelianenko. The attack occurred shortly after Emelianenko correctly, but harshly criticized the children's battles shown live without rules in which three minors Kadyrov participated and won. After that, a flurry of insulting statements that turned into frank threats fell on Emelianenko from the closest associates of Ramzan.

First, virtual threats from users of social networks with nicknames “@xxx_95” come, then the pressure goes into offline, after which Kadyrov’s critics are traditionally apologized

The commentary of Echmayev, who is completely and completely to the congratulatory post of Governor Vorobyov, was promptly deleted (only positive comments remained under the posture of Vorobyov). But that night, Boris Sergeyevich received a request for communication in the Instagram chat from the user @Kadyrov_95. The message was concise: "Write the number."

Boris Echmaev recorded the message (took a screenshot), he first rejected the invitation to communication. Boris Echmayev never came across users of social networks from the 95 region (Chechnya). Therefore, he turned to the journalist Oleg Kashin (“I am a regular reader Kashin and I remember the attack on him. Therefore, I considered that in this case he has more experience to advise what to do in such a situation,” Echmaev explained.) Oleg Kashin connected a “new newspaper,” which repeatedly wrote about the practice of public humiliation and intimidation of Cadirus’s critics. The scheme is almost always the same. First, virtual threats from users of social networks with nicknames “@xxx_95” come, then the pressure goes into offline, after which Kadyrov’s critics traditionally apologize.

It is possible to contrast this practice only with immediate publicity, which makes all repressive actions to be true to be confused. So it was in the case of the abductions of the Chechen bard of Hussein Beteleriev and the Chechen political scientist Ruslan Marthagov. After their relatives promptly betrayed the fact of their disappearance, the physical impact of these people in order to force the head of Chechnya to bring public apology to all meaning.

Boris Echmaev agreed to comment on Novaya Gazeta, did not object to the publication. And that evening (on Thursday) he wrote to Kadyrov’s chat and sent the number of his phone to the head of Chechnya.

Then the situation received a not quite standard sequel.

At about 11 pm, Boris Sergeyevich was called by Ramzan Akhmatovich.

“The conversation with Kadyrov lasted more than 20 minutes,” Boris Echmayev told Novaya. - I immediately said that I have a formed point of view, and if this conversation in order for me to change it, then this is a vain attempt. But I did not catch any aggression from the side of Ramzan. Rather, it was sincere curiosity. Ramzan asked why I wrote my comment. I explained my position on the rules of decency that public politicians must observe, in particular the governor of the Moscow region. I told him about the historical background about the fact that many citizens have developed a certain image of Chechnya and Chechens over the years, which the federal media are now artificially trying to change, because such a political situation is now. And that the governor is also involved in this, and this, for certain reasons, hurts me. He cited him as an example a public churching in the 90s of all former prominent communists. He said that history does not stand still, it changes, and a real criminal is Yeltsin, and that if not for his father Akhmat, then the flow of coffins to Russia would not have dried up to our days. He said that he was friends with Andrei Vorobyov for 16 years, and "this is quite normal - to congratulate a friend on the birth of his son." I again tried to explain to him that friendship is one thing, and public policy is another. That in Russian society there is a certain reputation and other Russian politicians should be considered this reputation. Then he invited me to Grozny. He said that he would lead me throughout the republic, and if at least one person says that he is dissatisfied with something, then Kadyrov would immediately write a statement of care. I said that hardly anyone will say something like that with him, so if I go to Grozny, then somehow myself. He asked him how he relates to the opposition, to the opposition media. He said they should be.

Then he suddenly says: “Ok! Since this situation with the post of <governor> touched you, it means that there are questions for me. We have a male conversation, let's say everything you want to say. Why don't I suit a person like you? "I replied:" Fear. " None of the governors of Russia are afraid, and they are afraid of him. And not only in Chechnya. I said that it is strange for me to see a person like him at the head of the region of my country. Because when I see him and his environment, I do not have any associations with decent people. And what I see first of all inadequate actions, gross power, aggression, willingness to crush or kill anyone who will become in the way. He said that if he had not been strong, he could not raise the republic from the ruins, and so that I would not look “at the beards and traditions. Strength, of course, is important, but we also think a lot, think. I really look at things. Now there is no need for all sorts of wizards who only say and do nothing. I am doing the job in my place. And you do your own. "

In general, I must say that the conversation turned out to be interesting and unexpected. Firstly, I did not expect Ramzan Kadyrov would call me. Secondly, I expected anything from him. It turned out that he was really interested in what different people think of him and that he knows how to listen to the interlocutor. As a result, they wished each other good night and said goodbye. I didn’t ask to apologize. ”