Power agents are not engaged in mass persecution of believers in KChR, experts say

The absence of large-scale persecution of residents for their religious beliefs by law enforcement bodies is a major reason for stability in the Karachay-Cherkessian Republic (KChR) – this is the opinion of most participants in the discussion "KChR's Experience in Harmonizing Inter-Confessional Relations".

Two republic – the KChR and the KBR (Kabardino-Balkarian Republic) – are closely situated and are similar in many ways, but the situation in them is different – this was the main message of the presentation by Irina Starodubrovskaya, the head of the scientific direction "Political Economy and Regional Development" at the Yegor Gaidar Institute. The discussion took place on November 18 in Cherkessk within the project "Civil Society in Northern Caucasus".

The wave of struggle against Wahhabism and extremism has touched on the KChR in a lesser extent, because of the 1999 interethnic confrontation, Ms Starodubrovskaya believes. The region is not characterized by conflicts within the Islamic community, said Inal Khubiev, the deputy Mufti of the republic.

Close cooperation of state authorities and civil society is the main cause of stability in the KChR, said Evgeny Kratov, the Minister of National Affairs, Mass Communication and Press of the KChR.

In recent years, the situation in Ingushetia, KChR and KBR has greatly improved, Murat Gukemukhov, a journalist from the "Echo of the Caucasus", believes.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.