Head of Ingushetia criticizes the idea of revising border with Chechnya

The head of Ingushetia Yunus-Bek Evkurov has opposed the revision of the existing administrative Chechen-Ingush border.

He asserts that the Ingush-Chechen border is long-standing. "The law on local self-government was passed; local elections were held – not once – in different subjects (of Chechnya and Ingushetia). The borders have settled not only between the republics, but also between unitary enterprises and ministries. These administrative relations have existed for more than one dozen years. Any attempt of any parties to revise the border will lead to conflict," said the head of Ingushetia.

Yunus-Bek Evkurov also wrote in his "Livejournal" that the leadership of the Republic of Ingushetia supports the idea that the border with Chechnya should pass across already well established territories.

On August 26, the Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov said that he would raise the issue at the federal level on establishing the administrative border with Ingushetia.

The Chechen authorities have decided to establish a republic's commission for setting the administrative border with Ingushetia.

Some experts have expressed concern about Kadyrov's initiatives. Thus, Victor Chernous, Director of the Centre for Regional Studies of the Southern Federal University, predicts worsening of the political situation in both republics as a result of the controversy over the administrative border.

The danger for both regions, caused by the public dispute over the Chechen-Ingush border, was stressed by Magomed Mutsolgov, the head of the Ingush human rights organization "MASHR".