Opponents of border agreement criticize pro-governmental rally in Nazran

On November 4, in Nazran, the Ingush authorities organized a rally on the occasion of the National Unity Day, obliging, well in advance, the heads of state-run agencies and structures to ensure the attendance, Magomed Mutsolgov, the head of the Ingush human rights organization "Mashr", has written in his blog that he runs on the "Caucasian Knot".

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that since October 4, Magas, the capital of Ingushetia, was the venue of a mass action against the changing the border with Chechnya, which was interrupted in order to prepare the World Congress of the Ingush People. On October 31, the organizers called for the early completion of the protest rally.

According to Mutsolgov, despite all the efforts and forcing state employees to participate in the November 4 event, the authorities failed to gather the promised multi-thousand rally.

Ingush activists, who are protesting against the agreement on the border with Chechnya, have interviewed the participants of the rally. "The absolute majority of the gathered adults were against the changing the borders of Ingushetia. [...] Of course, people cannot speak about it in public, because for them it will be fraught with consequences and at least dismissal from work," Mr Mutsolgov has written in his post.

The participants of the rally held in the square in front of the House of Culture in the city of Nazran were mainly state servants, who came there at the request of their bosses.

The participants of the rally against the agreement on the Chechen-Ingush border, held in Magas in October, also came to the same square. They decided to declare their demands by means of solo pickets at the background of the rally organized by the authorities, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, who was present in the square, has reported.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on November 4, 2018 at 07:40 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.