Election date of Ingush Ombudsman still unknown

Election of a new Ombudsman should take place soon in Ingushetia, but the date was not appointed. The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent learnt about it from Shamsudin Mogushkov, chair of the committee for legislation, law, order and security.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the former Ombudsman Karim-Sultan Kokurkhaev was dismissed before term by the local parliament. They even made a special amendment to the law for this purpose. Mr Kokurkhaev objected to the decision and lodged a suit to the Magas District Court, which should be considered in January. He told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that his dismissal was caused by his criticism of the work of the National Assembly.

President of the republic Yunus-Bek Evkurov presented his nominee - Azamat Nalgiev, incumbent chairman of the Public Commission on Human Rights under President of Ingushetia.

The President's nominee was supported by Timur Akiev, head of the Ingush Branch of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial", and Ruslan Badalov, another well-known human rights activist and chairman of the Public Movement "Chechen Committee of National Salvation".

At the same time, a number of public organizations moved their nominee for the post of Ombudsman to the Parliament of Ingushetia - Magomed Mutsolgov, an expert of the office of Russian Ombudsman and the head of the Autonomous Non-Commercial Organization "Mashr" (Peace).

Oleg Orlov, chairman of the board of the HRC "Memorial", believes that Mutsolgov has proved himself to be a "true human rights defender."

Russian Ombudsman Vladimir Lukin refused to share his opinion with the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent on Magomed Mutsolgov as a candidate for Ingush Ombudsman, finding it incorrect, as reported by his press secretary Natalia Mirza, to give comments on candidates for regional Ombudsmen on the eve of their elections.

In the opinion of the majority of readers of the "Caucasian Knot", Magomed Mutsolgov is a worthy person to be Ingush Ombudsman. In the poll organized among readers he won 51 percent of votes (from the total of 6182 respondents), with oppositionist Magomed Khazbiev being a runner-up with 34 percent (4123 votes). Bamatgirey Mankiev, a member of the Public Commission on Human Rights under President of Ingushetia, got 2 percent (269 votes). The voting continues.