Ingush authorities deny attempt to disrupt conference on repressed peoples

Officials did not interfere with the holding of a conference on repressed peoples and even suggested activists to hold it together, reported a source from the Ingush Ministry for National Policy and External Relations.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on April 27, 50 people took part in a conference organized by the movement "Support of Ingushetia" and the NGO "Assistance". Before the event, timed to the 27th anniversary of the adoption of the law on repressed peoples, members of Kabardino-Balkarian delegation were detained.

Delegates from the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR) were unable to attend the conference, reported Barakh Chemurziev, a member of the "Support of Ingushetia".

The authorities of Ingushetia twice forced owners of the premises where the conference was to be held to refuse providing a place for the event, Barakh Chemurziev added.

"It seemed to me that the regional authorities were frightened of the scale of the event and the fact that delegates of different nations would come and discuss such issues," Barakh Chemurziev said.

Speakers categorically condemned the repression of the peoples and emphasized that the process of rehabilitation has not yet been completed, noted Barakh Chemurziev.

The conference participants also noted the need to restore full historical justice in relation to the repressed peoples.

Meanwhile, an official from the Ingush Ministry for National Policy and External Relations denied reports of pressure on owners of the premises. According to the official, there was no incident with detention of delegates to the conference.