Nukhazhiev refutes detentions in Chechnya for drinking alcohol

The information that residents of Chechnya have been detained for drinking alcohol and are kept in the gym of the village of Khimoi of the Sharoi District is false, said Nurdi Nukhazhiev, the Chechen Ombudsman.

The "Caucasian Knot" has informed that relatives of a Chechen resident reported his detention on November 17 for drinking alcoholic drinks. Meanwhile, according to them, the man does not drink alcoholic beverages at all; however, together with several other detainees, he is being kept in a gym of the Khimoi village.

"Employees of my staff visited Khimoi village, inspected the gym, interviewed locals and found no evidence that residents detained for drunkenness had been kept there. Young people were training in the gym, and locals knew nothing about that fact," the TASS quotes Mr Nukhazhiev as saying.

At the same time, he has noted that in Chechnya alcohol drinkers are covered by "a tough preventive work." Public figures, the clergy, parents and relatives are involved in this work, but it is conducted within the framework of the law, Nurdi Nukhazhiev has assured.

"All this fuss is an artificial escalation of the situation," the Ombudsman has stated.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.