Public of Abkhazia concerned of situation in Kabardino-Balkaria

Representatives of the public of Abkhazia express their concern of the recent situation in Kabardino-Balkaria and demand to stop attacks on the leaders of Adyg organizations.

Veterans of the Patriotic War of the people of Abkhazia, members of the public chamber of Abkhazia, faculty of the Abkhazian State University, MPs and the Centre of Humanitarian Programmes have adopted an appeal to the public of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR).

"The attempts on Sufyan Kalebatov, own correspondent of the newspaper 'Northern Caucasus' in Abkhazia and holder of the Order 'Akhdz Apsha', Ruslan Keshev, leader of the public organization 'Circassian Congress', and Hero of Abkhazia Ibragim Yaganov, chairman of the Kabardian public organization "Khasse" - respected people in our republic, having great merits before the people of Abkhazia, were apprehended as the actions of destructive forces trying to destabilize the situation in the KBR and Northern Caucasus," runs the appeal.

The public of Abkhazia condemns these actions and believes that they should be stopped. The authors of the appeal express hope that the leadership of Kabardino-Balkaria will make everything possible to prevent further aggravation. "We also hope that the culprits will be detained and punished according to the Russia's current legislation," the document emphasizes.

Ibragim Yaganov, leader of the "Khasse" movement, beaten on December 5 in Nalchik, believes that he was attacked by Islamic fundamentalists, operating in concert with "near-the-power structures." "I managed to talk to them for two-three minutes, and I'm sure they were Islamic fundamentalists. They behaved aggressively and stated that we were nationalists and tried to separate them from their Balkar brothers. Having said this, they rushed on me," Mr Yaganov said to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.