Kazbek District of Dagestan. Photo: Karamudin Ataev http://odnoselchane.ru

23 October 2018, 23:11

New Chechen-Ingush borders sharpen problem of disputed Dagestani villages

The scandalous agreement on the borders between Chechnya and Ingushetia and the creation by Ramzan Kadyrov of a state commission to determine and confirm the administrative border of the republic have actualized the problem of disputed territories in Dagestan and the Stavropol Territory. Observers have expressed their concern about possible conflicts over the lands around Chechnya.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on September 7, it became known that Ramzan Kadyrov signed a decree to create a commission to determine the borders of Chechnya. The commission includes the heads of republic's regions bordering Dagestan and the Stavropol Territory.

On September 26, Ramzan Kadyrov and Yunus-Bek Evkurov signed the agreement on securing the border between Chechnya and Ingushetia. From October 4 till October 17, Magas hosted a round-the-clock mass rally against the change in the border with Chechnya. Protestors demanded the referendum on the issue of the border and the resignation of the republic's leader.

After revising the border between Chechnya and Ingushetia, the Chechen side can begin revising the border with Dagestan, believes Sira Saipov, a public figure in the Kazbek District.

"The ultimate goal of restoring the Aukhovsky District is to join it to Chechnya. However, the mechanism which was used with Ingushetia (without discussion with the population) may not work this time," the activist noted.

In any case, the decree will provoke a conflict, believes political analyst Ruslan Martagov. Meanwhile, he has expressed his confidence that in the above case, the opinion of the federal centre will be crucial.

Journalist Maxim Shevchenko also believes that the issue of the alienation of territories from Dagestan can result in serious consequences and conflict situations.

He believes the rights of the Chechen population of the Dagestani villages should be respected and the settlements themselves should remain within Dagestan. "The very possibility that the villages may be taken away will cause a rather negative reaction among the Dagestani people. There will be a conflict between the Chechen and the Avars. It cannot be provoked in any case," the journalist emphasizes.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on October 23, 2018 at 04:02 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Source: CK correspondents

All news
НАСТОЯЩИЙ МАТЕРИАЛ (ИНФОРМАЦИЯ) ПРОИЗВЕДЕН И РАСПРОСТРАНЕН ИНОСТРАННЫМ АГЕНТОМ ООО “МЕМО”, ЛИБО КАСАЕТСЯ ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТИ ИНОСТРАННОГО АГЕНТА ООО “МЕМО”.

March 28, 2024 22:19

  • Court extends arrest of blogger Alyona Agafonova

    Alyona Agafonova, a blogger from Samara, accused of desecrating a symbol of military glory because of her video filmed near the monument "The Motherland is Calling!" has been left in custody until June 19.

March 28, 2024 22:13

March 28, 2024 22:03

  • Attack on Crocus City Hall highlights issue of state assistance to victims of terror acts

    In Russia, the status of victims of terror acts should be legislated and state assistance should be guaranteed to them, human rights defenders claim after the terror act at the Crocus City Hall. According to the human rights defenders, the authorities still do not provide full-scale assistance to the victims of the terror act in Beslan and the militant attack on Nalchik.

March 27, 2024 16:51

March 27, 2024 14:49

News archive