Ruben Oshroev: totalitarian legacy hampers civil society's progress in KBR

Civil society organizations of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR) have discussed the problems of civil society at the roundtable held in Nalchik. Civil society structures are formed slowly due to the totalitarian legacy, said Ruben Oshroev, a candidate of historical sciences. Igor Minin, the Deputy Minister for Media and NGOs, has added that the latter are passive and reveal no interest even in grant tenders.

The roundtable took place on August 30 and was attended by representatives of a number of public and veterans' organizations, national-cultural centres and Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

Ruben Oshroev, the head of the group for studying modern society problems of the KBR's Institute of Humanitarian Studies, believes that a full transition to a civil society will only happen as a result of generation change.

Igor Minin said that the KBR has registered 800 NGOs, but only 60 are really at work. The authorities are interested in the progress of the civil society and set up a fund of grants to this end.

Journalist Timur Kuashev has questioned the need for civil society in general. According to his version, when the state carries out its functions, there is no need for the civil society; while civil activists should be present in bodies of power and be able to solve problems.