Residents of North Ossetia debated the effectiveness of nighttime restaurant closures.
The ban on nighttime work for cafes and restaurants in North Ossetia restricts citizens' freedom and does not solve the problem of violence, said some residents of the republic, commenting on the authorities' decision on social media. Their opponents supported the restrictions, stating that they would help prevent conflicts and ensure the safety of visitors to establishments.
As reported by "Caucasian Knot", on October 19, the head of North Ossetia, Sergey Menyaylo, proposed to limit the nighttime operation of restaurants after a brawl with gunfire in Vladikavkaz. On the night of October 18, two people were hospitalized after the conflict, including Chechen mixed martial arts fighter Ibrahim Islamov, known as Nikarho. On October 24, a decree came into force in the republic prohibiting cafes and restaurants from operating from midnight to 07:00, as well as accepting orders for alcohol after 23:00. Exceptions are provided for restaurants and bars in certain categories of hotels when serving resident guests.
The decision by the authorities of North Ossetia to limit the nighttime operation of catering establishments sparked a debate about whether these measures would help prevent new conflicts. Some participants in the discussion considered the reduction of operating hours a necessary safety measure, while others called it an unjustified interference in private life.
The decree also provides for the installation of surveillance and alert systems, the involvement of licensed security, increased patrolling, and a ban on public mass events, noted the Instagram*-public region15.info on October 24.
As of 10:30 Moscow time on October 26, this post in the Instagram*-public region15.info, which has about 464 thousand followers, received 546 likes and 194 comments.
Some participants in the discussion supported the restrictions, linking the nighttime operation of establishments with the risk of conflicts and the need to ensure the safety of visitors.
"The ban on alcohol after 23:00 will reduce the number of drunken fights and conflicts," suggested max_gogi.
"I consider the restriction on alcohol orders after 23:00 a reasonable measure on the part of Sergey Ivanovich. It is still possible to meet and have a quiet dinner; it is not necessary to continue the feast until morning," pointed out di___plieva.
Additional safety requirements for establishments also received support. "It’s good that Menyaylo's decree includes security requirements and increased patrols. We want peace on the streets, not just restrictions on paper. The main thing is that all this works," wrote azam.hod.
Other participants in the discussion argued that the ban does not eliminate the causes of violence, and citizens should choose their own leisure time.
"We need to educate, not prohibit. Nothing good will come from military power," stated sasha_tautiev.
"How about we decide for ourselves when and where to go?" retorted tst.tst123 to a participant in the discussion who supported the restrictions.
Shifting the timing of gatherings will not prevent possible conflicts, suggested sveta_irma. "They will do it until 00:00, drink, sniff. This is not a solution to the problem; something else needs to be banned, something that drives them to such a state," she wrote.
A separate dispute arose over exceptions for restaurants in hotels. Commentators doubted that the restrictions would apply equally to all establishments.
"Where this brawl happened, they will not close because they are part of the hotel," suggested kos_kor_a.
al_an1520 also pointed out the possibility of a restaurant in a hotel continuing to operate. The user suggested strengthening visitor control and law enforcement instead of temporary restrictions and questioned why the ban is in effect until further notice.
Recall that after the brawl with gunfire in Vladikavkaz on the night of October 18, in which Chechen mixed martial arts fighter Ibrahim Islamov, known as Nikarho, was injured, a dispute arose on social media about respect for local residents and hospitality traditions. On October 19, Sergey Menyaylo stated that guests of North Ossetia should respect local customs and not perceive hospitality as weakness. Parliament member Soslan Didarov and fighter Maxim Divnich also urged visitors to observe local customs and norms of decency.
The position on the necessity of respecting local traditions received support from some commentators who considered the behavior of guests the cause of the conflict, and the use of weapons as self-defense. Their opponents argued that even inappropriate behavior by visitors does not justify gunfire. A particularly sharp debate arose over a video recording in which a participant in the conflict, retreating from the shooter, was shot in the back. Discussion participants demanded an explanation of whether such actions could be considered necessary defense.
The discussion continued with demands for an impartial investigation of the conflict. Some commentators insisted that visitors must adhere to behavioral rules in the host region, while others criticized attempts to preemptively assign blame to participants in the brawl based on nationality or region. Commentators called for establishing the circumstances of the use of weapons and assessing the actions of all participants regardless of their origin.