Acting President of Ingushetia: opposition heats up tension around actions of Chechen power agents

Prime Minister Rashid Gaisanov, acting President of Ingushetia, believes that the opposition is "heating up" the situation around the actions of the Chechen militia in their republic. He thinks that there is no pressure from Chechnya.

"People see their overall objective in preserving the republic and its independent status. They fear that like in 1934 the top authorities can 'fasten' Ingushetia to Chechnya. And certain current actions, events and statements fall onto historical memory. But the Chechen militia operates only in the mountainous and forest-covered areas, not in cities and villages. The point is not in their work, but what is spoken around it," said Mr Gaisanov.

According to his version, the opposition "is heating up the situation aiming to extract its political dividends," and its appeals "to stop joint actions with Chechens" coincide with the aims of the armed underground. "It gives rise, naturally, to the idea that, maybe, they are some legal wing of these underground formations. However, this is the work for special services," the "Vremya Novostey" (Time for News) newspaper is quoting the acting President of Ingushetia as saying.

He has also referred the opposition's refusal to cooperate with the new republic's power to "personal dishonesty" of its leaders. According to his version, he does not understand the offer of the opposition to hold a rally against illegal actions of power agencies and in memory of perished human rights defender Natalia Estemirova.