Magomed Mutsolgov: decrease in number of murders in Ingushetia is partly due to authorities' efforts

According to the annual monitoring of human rights and freedoms in the territory of Ingushetia, conducted by the organization "MASHR", in 2011, the number of murders in the republic in comparison with previous year decreased twofold from 160 murders in 2010 down to 80 in 2011. According to human rights defenders, that fact is partly connected to efforts of the regional authorities.

"Perhaps, the most important fact that pleases us this year is a twofold decrease of the number of people killed in our territory. If in 2009, 304 persons were killed, in 2010 160, then, this year, according to our preliminary information, 80 persons. This fact shows that, in comparison with previous years, a sustainable trend to decrease of the number of people killed in the territory of our republic has appeared," says Magomed Mutsolgov, Chairman of the Public Monitoring Commission of the Republic of Ingushetia, the head of the Autonomous non-commercial organization "MASHR", the author of the blog on the "Caucasian Knot".

The "Caucasian Knot" has already emphasized that in Ingushetia, a tendency towards stabilization was observed. In total, for 11 months of 2011, according to information and analysis of the "Caucasian Knot", 103 persons were killed in Ingushetia as a result of armed conflict. The information was received from the edition's own correspondents and open sources.

According to the "Caucasian Knot" calculations, by the end of 2010, 326 persons, including 134 killed and 192 wounded, became victims of the conflict in the republic. In that year, Ingushetia had the second highest number of victims of the conflict among the regions of the North-Caucasian Federal District (NCFD).

2009, contrary to expectations, associated with Yunus-Bek Evkurov's coming to power in Ingushetia, failed to become the year of stabilization in the republic. In total, in 2009, according to the "Caucasian Knot", 344 persons were killed as a result of armed attacks, shootings and bombings in the republic.

The "Caucasian Knot" information differs to some extent from the statistics of the human rights organization "MASHR". The fact is that the "Caucasian Knot" calculated the number of victims of the armed conflict. It is known that not all data appear in news reports, and it is not always possible to check, whether statements of the law enforcement agencies are correct.

Magomed Mutsolgov emphasizes that the annual reports on human rights violations in the Republic of Ingushetia, published by the human rights organization "MASHR", "mention all killed persons, regardless of their profession, nationality, religion, and social class, and regardless the fact whether they were local residents or visitors." "We record everything that happened in the territory of the republic," says Magomed Mutsolgov.

Let us note that, according to the "Caucasian Knot" information, in 2010, at least 18 kidnappings were recorded in Ingushetia (according to the "MASHR" information, 13 persons were kidnapped and put in the list of missing persons in 2010 - note of the "Caucasian Knot"). According to Magomed Mutsolgov, the situation failed to improve fundamentally this year.

"Unfortunately, here we can say that, in comparison with 2010, the number of kidnapped and missing persons has increased. After the holidays, we will prepare and publish the annual lists of names of killed and kidnapped persons," emphasizes the human rights defender.

According to the "Caucasian Knot" information, for 11 months of this year, 13 persons were kidnapped in Ingushetia.

According to Magomed Mutsolgov, improvement of the situation with the number of killed persons in the republic country is connected to several factors.

"To some extent, the positive changes are connected with actions of the authorities. On the one hand, when people disappear, in most cases, effective investigatory mechanisms are not used; it is clear that the authorities hide illegal actions of the law enforcement bodies," believes the human rights defender.

However, according to him, "we should not think that investigators are unable to solve crimes or doubt that their abilities and skills allow them doing that."

"On the other hand, it should be noted that the number of murders, bombings, shootings has decreased, and this fact is partly an achievement of the regional authorities and their actions in that direction. However, I believe that there are other factors, which contributed to the decrease in the number of serious and especially grave crimes in the territory of the republic," says Magomed Mutsolgov.