27 October 2018, 16:36
Ingush opposition treats Kadyrov's visits as diversion
The authorities of Ingushetia are ignoring the initiative trips of Kadyrov's people over the republic; while the apologies and reconciliations that accompany the visits will not make the residents of Ingushetia forget about the land issue, Ingush oppositionists have stated.
On September 26, Ramzan Kadyrov and Yunus-Bek Evkurov signed the agreement on securing the border between Chechnya and Ingushetia. From October 4 till October 17, Magas hosted a round-the-clock mass rally against the change in the border with Chechnya. Protestors demanded the referendum on the issue of the border and the resignation of the republic's leader.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on October 16, the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, promised to "request" from Akhmed Pogorov, one of the leaders of protests in Ingushetia and a former head of the Ingush Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), for a number of latter's statements made at the rally and addressed to Kadyrov. On October 26, Kadyrov personally arrived at Pogorov's house in Karabulak. Later, Pogorov announced his reconciliation with Kadyrov. The leaders of Chechnya left his home only after a conversation with the elder Akhmed Barakhoev, whom Kadyrov had earlier invited to a Sharia trial.
Ingush opponents of the border agreement with Chechnya expressed their outrage at the frequent visits of Kadyrov's people. The authorities of Ingushetia fail to react to the initiatives of the Chechen leadership in relation to Ingushetia, opposition leaders assert.
"Top officials of the neighbouring region have been touring around Ingushetia for a week now. I'm already feeling that Evkurov may have given them carte blanche himself," an activist Isropil Nalgiev has written in his Facebook page today.
"Against the background of Kadyrov's visits to Ingushetia, excuses and forgiveness become the main topic, while residents of the republic continue seeking a fair resolution of the border issue," said activist Bekkhan Khashagulgov.
"In recent days, we are witnessing already the fourth visit of [Kadyrov and his representatives]. The reason for the meetings is the same: appeals, statements, apologies, tea parties, etc. Of course, it's good that everything moves in a peaceful track; but I can't understand where the main issue of illegally transferred lands has disappeared. Apologies and forgiveness is the main topic, and the land issue is moved to the background. Although this nonsense with mutual reproaches started on the basis of the unfair agreement, and everyone should get back to it," Mr Khashagulgov wrote in his Facebook page.
A similar opinion was expressed by activist Akhmed Buzurtanov. "Reconciliatory games will not change the attitude of Ingush residents to the agreement on the transfer of territories. We are not like we were before ...," he wrote on the Facebook.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on October 26, 2018 at 11:57 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
