Residents of Ingushetia and Chechnya tell about situation on the border

The Ingush authorities had long ignored the infrastructure problems of the mountainous Sunzha District; therefore, the initiative of their Chechen counterparts, who began building a road, caused no opposition among residents of the nearest Ingush villages. This was reported by residents of border areas of the two republics.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in late August, the NGO "Support of Ingushetia" informed about the construction works performed in the territory of Ingushetia by Chechen road builders under the protection of Chechen law enforcers. Ingush authorities left these actions without any public response, the NGO activists then stated.

Residents of pre-border areas of Chechnya linked the difficulties of developing this area with two military campaigns, terrorist operations and instability of the post-war years.

Residents of Arshty and Bamut have confirmed that the road construction works were ongoing, but no tension was felt, as they said.

There are no conflicts over the land in the border areas, said Usman, a resident of Bamut.

Magomed, his fellow villager, has added that residents of Chechnya found shelter in Ingushetia during military operations in their republic; and residents of Ingushetia went to Chechnya to escape persecutions during the Ossetian-Ingush conflict.

He has stressed that the pre-border regions are inhabited by members of different Vainakh groups, but there is no ethnic-based separation or discrimination.