Support The Moscow Times!

Kadyrov Calls on Muslims to Stop Rallying in Support of Rohingya

Zubair Bairakov / TASS

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has called on his supporters to stop demonstrating, a week after convening a mass rally against the persecution of Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslims in Grozny.

“There is no need for rallies now,” Kadyrov wrote on his Instagram account on Sunday. “If the initiators [of rallies] are concerned about the fate of the Rohingya, then this issue has already become the number one problem that is being discussed around the world.” 

His statement came after around 130 people were detained on Sunday at an unauthorized rally in St. Petersburg in support of the Rohingya.  Last week, at least 20 people were detained at two spontaneous demonstrations outside the Myanmar Embassy in Moscow. 

Kadyrov convened thousands of Muslims in the Chechen capital of Grozny last Monday to support the Rohingya, saying in his Sunday post that “The voice of the protesters was heard in all corners of the world.”

Kadyrov previously said he would “oppose Russia’s position” if it “supports the devils who commit crimes” in Myanmar.

But in his Sunday post, he thanked President Vladimir Putin, as well as the leaders of Turkey and Kazakhstan, for “demonstrating integrity and humanity in this matter.” Putin addressed the unrest in Myanmar last Monday, condemning the violence in the Southeast Asian nation, “including violence against Muslims.”

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysiss and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more