Participants of the festive rally in Chechnya complained of coercion

Participants of the rally timed to coincide with the celebration of National Unity Day on November 4 in Grozny told the "Caucasian Knot" that they were forced to come by threats.

The publication quotes from conversations with several participants in the rally - a student at a Chechen university, an employee of a local enterprise and an employee of one of the regional departments. The student told how they were brought to the rally by bus. Two other interlocutors of the "Caucasian Knot" complained that the authorities threatened those who would not go to the rally with dismissals and "problems".

According to the mayor's office of Grozny, several tens of thousands of people took part in the rally.

Coercion to participate in a public event using one's official position is a crime for which, according to article 149 of the Criminal Code, a penalty of up to three years in prison is provided.