'Lezgian' dance results in beatings and pepper gas

The story:

Four young men from Adygea in the North Caucasus were recently detained in Geledgik for dancing in the street. They were beaten by policemen, who also used pepper gas, injuring bystanders.

A girl, who protested the detention, was also beaten.

The young men were brought to a police station. Two of them were promptly released, while the other two were charged with petty misconduct and arrested for five days.

One of them was later also freed, but one remains under arrest. According to the police, he headbutted a policeman in the face causing injury. The injured policeman had to get medical aid – The Caucasian Knot reports.

Neither the name of the policeman, nor the the hospital he is in were revealed.

Why did it happen?

The policemen say the dancers were detained for disobedience. No reasons for the officers to approach the dancers were stated, The Caucasian Knot reports.

Meanwhile, social media was full of answers to the question.

In Adygea and other North Caucasian republics, many believe that the Caucasian folk dances are seen as a threat by Russian communities and should be banned.

Nurdin Jedydj from Adyge Khase says he has never seen an official ban, but thinks it possible that an informal ban on Caucasian music and dances on the Russian Black sea coast could be introduced.

Asfar Myss from the Adygea Muslim association came to Gelendgik to help untangle the conflict. As he told the press, the police chiefs know that a mistake had been made, but they cover it up.

Albert Sokht, the Adyge Khase deputy leader, sees a broader problem.