this is the only music allowed in Chechnya

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

Minister of Culture of Chechnya Musa Dadaev at an extended meeting in Grozny stated, that 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 adats, nokhchalla – features of the Chechen character.” The official clarified that the decision was agreed upon with the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov.

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

The publication recalls that in July 2019, the Ministry of Culture of Chechnya criticized local amateur performers who publish their recordings on the Internet. Only performers approved by the commission can perform concerts and publish their songs, the department said then. It was recommended that amateur songs be “checked for compliance with the Chechen mentality.”

In September 2019, Chechen authorities reported detention amateur singers – brothers Ayub and Askhab Vakharagov. It was alleged that an educational conversation was held with them because they performed songs that were not approved by the authorities of the republic. The singers themselves later statedthat there were no complaints against them, but the Memorial human rights center 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, Minister of Youth Affairs Akhmat Kadyrov, ordered the identification of social network users “whose actions contradict Chechen culture and mentality.”