Mutual relations of national communities in Krasnodar Territory worsened after Kadyrov's words about Imam Shamil

Ilyas Vanatov, a native of Dagestan, killed in Krasnodar, was buried in his native village of Turshunai. Tensions among natives from Dagestan and Chechnya have intensified after disputes on the republics' border and Ramzan Kadyrov's statements about Imam Shamil, members of the Dagestani community of Krasnodar assert.

Users of social networks have doubted the officials' version that the shootout of natives from Chechnya and Dagestan that broke out in Krasnodar on August 21 was just a domestic conflict. Users suggest that authorities are trying to hide the interethnic background of the incident.

Ali, an acquaintance of the assassinated 27-year-old Ilyas Vanatov, has noted that members of the Dagestani community in Krasnodar avoid contacting members of the Chechen community.

There is no open hostility between Chechens and Dagestanis, but their relationships cannot be called friendly, said Shamil Alkhanov, a native of Dagestan.

According to his observations, relations have become even more strained amid Kadyrov's statements and actions; and the Dagestani youth "feels this tension."

Dagestanis are annoyed by the neglect with which some Chechens treat them, said Ramazan, a native of Dagestan.

There are no tensions between Chechens and Dagestanis, Nazhmuddin Murtuzov, the deputy chairman of the Lezgin Cultural Centre in Krasnodar, is sure. In Krasnodar, "many ethnic groups live in peace and friendship," and the conflict between young people occurred "because of poor education," he believes.