To “protect the cultural identity of the country”, declares President Kadyrov, from now on only sounds between 80 and 116 BPM will be allowed
We only dance to Chechen rhythms, literally: the Russian Republic between the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea has decided to give space solely to songs and dances in line with the «Chechen mentality and musicality, to protect the country’s cultural heritage,” said Culture Minister Musa Dadayev. Okay, so, just for the sounds whose BPM (beats per minute) range between 80 and 116banning everything else, such as pop and techno genres which risk westernizing the ears of citizens and polluting their tastes.
Bad news for fans of Taylor Swift and Beyoncé, but it will have to be said goodbye also to My Heart Will Go On by Céline Dion (67 BPM), to the soundtrack of Mamma Mia and (barring future permission) even to the Russian national anthem (76 BPM). Green light for Jingle Bells, as long as it’s not the rock version. “Borrowing other people’s musical culture is not acceptable,” Dadayev continued, giving the local artists the opportunity to rewrite their songsfollowing the new rules, until June 1st.
Since President Ramzan Akhmatovich Kadyrov – pro-Putinian – came to power in 2007, every expression considered an indication of dissidence has been reported, and the repression has aroused the concern of the international community: numerous have occurred waves of violence (up to murder) against homosexualsalso investigated by the UN in 2017 and 2019. To the accusations, the head of government responded that he does not want same-sex couples in his Republic, and that existing ones must leave (the journalist was also working on the topic with an investigation Russian Elena Milashina in July 2023: attacked, she was hospitalized with broken fingers, her face covered in green paint and her hair shaved).
These facts, added to the opposition to the separatist movement that promotes independence from Russia, and other forms of veto on the freedom to be and express oneself, led the US State Department to issue sanctions in July 2020 for «the involvement of Kadyrov in serious violations of human rights».
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April 9, 2024 (modified April 9, 2024 | 1:04 pm)
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