only such music was allowed in Chechnya

The Ministry of Culture of Chechnya has introduced restrictions on music that is allowed to be played or played publicly in the republic. All musical, vocal and choreographic works must correspond to a tempo of 80 to 116 beats per minute. According to the department, this rhythm corresponds to the Chechen mentality.

The Minister of Culture of Chechnya, Musa Dadaev, stated at an extended meeting in Grozny that the music performed in the republic should “carry the cultural heritage of the Chechen people to the people and to the future of our children: customs, traditions, our traditions, nokhchalla – peculiarities of the Chechen character.” The official clarified that the decision was agreed with the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov.

Musical works intended for performance in Chechnya were instructed by the Ministry of Culture to be re-recorded at an approved tempo by June 1. Otherwise, they will not be allowed for public performance, the “Caucasian Knot” publication reports.

The publication reminds that in July 2019, the Ministry of Culture of Chechnya criticized local amateur performers who published their recordings on the Internet. Only artists approved by the commission can perform concerts and publish their songs, the agency said at the time. Amateur songs were recommended to be “checked for compliance with the Chechen mentality.”

In September 2019, the authorities of Chechnya reported the detention of amateur singers – brothers Ayub and Ashab Vakharagov. It was claimed that they had an educational discussion because of their performance of songs not approved by the republican authorities. The singers themselves later stated that there were no complaints against them, but the human rights center “Memorial” believed that they were denying pressure from the authorities, since publicity could lead to further persecution.

In March 2024, the son of the head of Chechnya, the Minister of Youth Affairs, Akhmat Kadyrov, ordered to identify users of social networks “whose actions contradict the Chechen culture and mentality.”