Incident at "Chermen" checkpoint provokes criticism of checkpoints in Northern Caucasus

A bus driver from Ingushetia was fined and released after a conflict with law enforcers at the "Chermen" checkpoint, the Ingush Ministry for National Affairs reported. Checkpoints at the border between the republics of Northern Caucasus complicate international relations, believes human rights defender Magomed Mutsolgov.

The incident which occurred at the "Chermen" checkpoint on September 19 was reported by user Urus Kurskiev in the "United Caucasian Forum" group on Facebook.

According to the report, a passenger bus on route from Nazran to Saint Petersburg was stopped at the "Chermen" checkpoint for a thorough check. After that, a scandal occurred between the bus driver and the officers of the "Chermen" checkpoint. The scandal grew into a fight. Driver Mikail Aushev and his son Magomed-Amin were detained.

The incident was settled, and its participants were fined and released home after the intervention of officials from the Ingush Ministry of National Affairs.

According to Magomed Mutsolgov, the head of the human rights organization "Mashr", residents of Ingushetia express their indignation about the procedures that they are subjected to at the checkpoint.

"Unreasonable and illegal passport checks, checkpoint registration requirement, and vehicle searches carried out beyond rules of law and legal regulations toughen the situation in Northern Caucasus and complicate international relations in the region," Magomed Mutsolgov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent on September 23.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on September 24, 2019 at 05:42 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.