Human rights defenders treat closure of library in Grozny as a blow to culture

After the distribution of the book funds of the Grozny Central City Library, the institution itself will not be saved. The Central City Library is closed because of the high cost of its premises. This opinion was expressed by the human rights defenders interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot".

As it was reported, on April 17, staff members of the Grozny Central Library (GCL) claimed being forced to leave the building. On April 19, a staff member of the GCL reported on the dismissal of four other staff members of the GCL, including the director.

This is not the first time when the authorities are trying to close the GCL, notes Varvara Pakhomenko, a researcher of the International Crisis Group (ICG).

According to her, the GCL was a very symbolic place.

Now, "after the dismissal of the GCL director, the authorities will achieve their goal, and the premises will be free," believes Oleg Orlov, a member of the Board of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial". He has called the closure of the GCL "a powerful blow to the culture," which will result in disappearance of a centre of social life and culture.

Svetlana Gannushkina, the head of the Committee "Civil Assistance", has the similar opinion. According to her, "the gold place" will become a shelter for an institution, which is likely to be owned by relatives of the Chechen leaders.

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