peacetraveler22: (Default)
peacetraveler22 ([personal profile] peacetraveler22) wrote2015-05-16 11:32 pm

Confused, Naive American - Explain Chechen Wedding Scandal!

We all recognize that there are eccentric and deranged people in all parts of the globe, engaged in questionable behavior which we'll never understand or condone. I once thought of visiting Grozny, so perhaps some of you would even place me in one, or both, of these categories. Remember a few years ago, I wrote this post, asking readers whether it's safe for an American woman to travel to Chechnya? Some of my friends in the Russian blogosphere have been there, and even personally met Kadyrov and told me it was safe. All of them - MEN. You can call me a naive or misinformed American, but I can't understand yesterday's events.

I read the scandalous news that Kadyrov granted special permission for an old Police Chief to marry a 17 year old bride! I will not place a photo of the sad, distraught young woman in my blog to further sensationalize her image. On her wedding day, her eyes completely devoid of joy, as if going to a funeral or gas chamber. You've already seen her expressions, her white dress, and the bejeweled head covering, all draped around the delicate frame of a young woman who likely had no say in the events of that day, or in picking her groom. What a sad existence, I'm sorry I can't imagine it, or respect any region where such actions are considered acceptable, and personally authorized by the leader!! I read a lot of stories and comments about this topic today, and I'm particularly disgusted by the post written by Ilya Varlamov, LJ's top Russian blogger, where he can't understand all the fuss or controversy over the wedding.  How can a modern, intelligent man like him not question this event, particularly when he has a young daughter of his own?

Here in the U.S., we have various religious sects engaged in polygamy, many marrying very young brides. The distinction is that our leaders don't advocate or approve of such behavior, nor does most of American society. On some other news sites, I read comments by a few Chechen females stating that the bride's facial expression was normal, that Muslim women don't show overt expression, even during a wedding. According to them, such action would be considered immodest in strict Muslim families.

What do you think of this scandal? Please help me understand "real" Chechen culture and mentality better, not what well-known bloggers show on their hand held tours, organized by Chechen officials. Yes, I know about the Chechen wars and that it's a Muslim region in the North Caucasus, yet it's still part of Russia. I'm especially interested to hear from any female readers I might have living in this area. Help me restore my faith in this region..

[identity profile] tyrrel-hanna.livejournal.com 2015-05-17 04:34 am (UTC)(link)
Spousal rape is not a crime in Russia. This is all you have to know about this black hole.

[identity profile] peacetraveler22.livejournal.com 2015-05-17 04:39 am (UTC)(link)
Seriously? :( I had no idea. This is shameful.

[identity profile] tyrrel-hanna.livejournal.com 2015-05-17 04:40 am (UTC)(link)
The traditions is Russia are superior to the human rights.

[identity profile] peacetraveler22.livejournal.com 2015-05-17 04:43 am (UTC)(link)
Are you implying that spousal rape is a "tradition" in Russia?

[identity profile] stan podolski (from livejournal.com) 2015-05-17 04:50 am (UTC)(link)
Oh yes, very much

[identity profile] tyrrel-hanna.livejournal.com 2015-05-17 06:27 am (UTC)(link)
Yes. Try to google Russian concept of "снохачество" - long standing tradition of raping the son's wives on regular basis.

[identity profile] notfop.livejournal.com 2015-05-17 07:42 am (UTC)(link)
Long standing tradition?? Are you crazy???

[identity profile] nagolny.livejournal.com 2015-05-17 05:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Не несите бред, пожалуйста.

[identity profile] pin-gwin.livejournal.com 2015-05-17 05:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Here you come again..... Please tell people what YOU know in person.

[identity profile] tyrrel-hanna.livejournal.com 2015-05-17 04:41 am (UTC)(link)
Anyway, don't be fooled by Constitutions and other written laws in that country. It is only for the show.

[identity profile] peacetraveler22.livejournal.com 2015-05-17 04:42 am (UTC)(link)
This wedding proves your statement.

[identity profile] notfop.livejournal.com 2015-05-17 07:39 am (UTC)(link)
I agreе, that's not true.

[identity profile] tyrrel-hanna.livejournal.com 2015-05-17 05:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Liar!

[identity profile] tyrrel-hanna.livejournal.com 2015-05-17 07:45 am (UTC)(link)
Lasciate ogni speranza, voi ch’entrate

Just open penal code :)

[identity profile] xpo-xpo-xpo.livejournal.com 2015-05-18 03:00 am (UTC)(link)
It's quite simple:
1. Изнасилование, то есть половое сношение с применением насилия или с угрозой его применения к потерпевшей или к другим лицам либо с использованием беспомощного состояния потерпевшей, -

наказывается лишением свободы на срок от трех до шести лет.

There are more items in this article, but the definition is here: rape is a sexual intercourse forced by violence or threat of violence against victim or other person or using helpless conditions of victim - there is no word about marriage. Actually, formally one may marry any minor if local laws allow this (e.g. Bashkortostan laws allow marriage at any age) but no one may have sex with his own wife until she is at least fourteen (even consensual!) unless he is below eighteen. Anyone below eighteen may have consensual sex free of punishment.

And in America there live people with dog's heads!

[identity profile] xpo-xpo-xpo.livejournal.com 2015-05-18 02:43 am (UTC)(link)
Seriously?! I don't understand how a lawyer may believe in such a bullshit?! Probably one may find such laws in US (there are many laws; some of them stupid and some - are even "unlawful": they are never enforced as this would violate Constitution) but in Russia we have different law system. We may have (read: have) problems with laws enforcement - but we are much less likely to have bullshit laws :)

Re: And in America there live people with dog's heads!

[identity profile] peacetraveler22.livejournal.com 2015-05-18 02:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Who said I automatically believed what that person wrote? That's why I wrote "Seriously?" as my response to her. I don't know whether it's true or not. Rape is a serious offense, no matter in which country or under what conditions it occurs. And, yes, I do believe you can be raped by your spouse. Some people's opinions differ on the issue.

Yes, rape is possible.

[identity profile] xpo-xpo-xpo.livejournal.com 2015-05-18 02:41 pm (UTC)(link)
And punishable! :)

Re: And in America there live people with dog's heads!

[identity profile] krevedko63.livejournal.com 2015-05-29 08:22 am (UTC)(link)
I'm just waiting for someone to recall that poor young lady became the SECOND wife of the old cop.
Edited 2015-05-29 08:23 (UTC)

[identity profile] don-oles.livejournal.com 2015-05-17 04:58 am (UTC)(link)
To bear a new child (i.e. to forcefully "invite" another being into Russia) is not a crime in Russia too. You, being citizen of US - would you like to move to Russia and get russian citizenship? Only by force.

[identity profile] inamora.livejournal.com 2015-05-17 06:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Кто вам это сказал?

[identity profile] tyrrel-hanna.livejournal.com 2015-05-17 07:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Я вам сказала. Можете посмотреть на счастливое лицо девочки на свадьбе и представить себе, кому она побежит жаловаться на изнасилование ее мужесвенным, красивым, геройским мужем-миллиционером. А что ему? Он ее изнасиловал, конституцию изнасиловал, законы о браке и семье изнасиловал, и все это перед телекамерами! Ему еще и медальку дадут: за геройское изнасилование в прямом эфире! Молодец мужик, не сплоховал, всех на своем гордом чеченском члене покрутил.

Кстати, дочка у вас есть? Следите за ее девственностью. Чтобы мужу-милиционеру, который возьмет ее пятнадцатой младшей женой в свой скромный гарем, не пришлось ее забить до смерти за бесчестие.

[identity profile] andrey-kaminsky.livejournal.com 2015-05-18 05:16 am (UTC)(link)
Вот такая жизнь: Попу поднял - место потерял. Секс-бложик теперь здесь.