In Ingushetia, human rights defender Mutsolgov is afraid of provocations following threats

An anonymous letter was placed on one of Ingush websites published an anonymous letter, stating a threat to the life of Magomed Mutsolgov, head of the Ingush human rights organization "Mashr" from President of Ingushetia Yunus-Bek Evkurov. Kaloi Akhilgov, Mr Evkurov's press secretary, treated the letter as "a raving." Mutsolgov himself says that he does not believe in reality of the threats, but does not rule out possible provocations against him and Evkurov.

"I'm not going to change my usual way of life and plan to continue my activities in defence of citizens' rights and monitor the situation with human rights in the Republic of Ingushetia," Magomed Mutsolgov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

The human rights activist says that he is very often criticizing the government and power agencies, including special services, demanding from them to respect ordinary people, justice and the law; however, he stresses that he does not believe that President Evkurov wants his death.

At the same time, he noted that he did not want "to become token money in someone's dirty political games." He added that, despite numerous suggestions of his friends and colleagues to leave the country and wait for some time abroad, he is not going to leave Ingushetia.

Kaloi Akhilgov, press secretary of President of Ingushetia, treated the information that Evkurov is going to kill Mutsolgov as "ravings." "The website, where this information appeared, has links to the former president of Ingushetia Zyazikov. I talked to Mutsolgov. He understands that what was written was just nonsense, another dirty trick," Kaloi Akhilgov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"We are not oppositionists, we are human rights defenders - it's not the same. The former are people who seek power, but we don't want it, we demand from officials in power and power agents to respect the law and not to harass ordinary people by abusing their official duties," Mr Mutsolgov said.

The head of the "Mashr" finds Evkurov to be the most accessible president of Ingushetia. "We often express our criticism not only through media, but to him personally, when we meet him. I'm sure he is not quite happy to hear criticism, like most people, but until today he always had patience and listening to our critical remarks," said the human rights activist.