27 September 2018, 08:05
Political analysts link Yuri Kokov's resignation with Kendelen conflict
The events in Kendelen have shown the Kremlin that Yuri Kokov is unable to maintain stability in the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR), Andrei Serenko believes. Dmitry Oreshkin, an independent political analyst, is sure that Moscow officials, while combating the opposition, which manifested itself during the incident in Kendelen, are safeguarding themselves.
On September 18, residents of the Balkar village of Kendelen did not let participants of the equestrian procession organized in memory of the 310th anniversary of the Kanjali Battle to pass through the village. The refusal provoked clashes. On September 19, clashes between activists and law enforcers took place in the vicinity of Kendelen, in the village of Zayukovo, and at a checkpoint of the road-and-patrol service (known as DPS) in the town of Baksan. According to the activists, as a result of the clash with the police, 45 people were hospitalized and the number of detainees reached 120 people.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that today Vladimir Putin at his meeting with Kazbek Kokov announced his decision to appoint him the acting head of the KBR. According to President Putin, Yuri Kokov asked to be transferred to work in Moscow.
Andrei Serenko, a political analyst and the coordinator of the Volgograd club of experts of the Lower Volga region, has treated the transfer of Yuri Kokov to Moscow as a sort of resignation, caused by the events in the Balkar village of Kendelen.
"The clashes were the first reason for the expected resignation. The major requirement of the Kremlin and the presidential administration for the heads of the regions is their ability to maintain stability in their territories. The events in Kendelen show that Yuri Kokov has ceased to comply with the Kremlin's major requirement, "Andrei Serenko told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.
By dismissing Yuri Kokov, the Kremlin is safeguarding itself, Dmitry Oreshkin believes. In his opinion, this is the manner the federal centre is combating oppositional movements, which showed themselves during the incident in Kendelen.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on September 26, 2018 at 09:39 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Author: Oleg Krasnov Source: CK correspondent
