Analysts point to risks of resuming Chechen-Ingush land dispute

The idea to create the "Daimokkh" Park on the Chechen-Ingush border should not look like a transfer of Ingush lands to Chechnya; therefore, it needs improvement, analysts have pointed out.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in 2018, one third of the nature reserve occurred in the territory of Chechnya as a result of the border demarcation between the two republics, which ran along the Fortanga River. Chechnya is planning to create the "Daimokhk" nature reserve here. This is opposed by Magomed Evloev, the head of the Ministry of Natural Resources of Ingushetia.

The creation of a park on the Chechen-Ingush border creates risks of territorial disputes, Alexei Malashenko, a political analyst, believes. "Ingushes had highly valued the territories they handed over in 2018 … Concessions on this issue could irritate people in the republic," he said, adding that Chechen leadership should take a constrained position in this issue.

The creation of a national park is a good deed, which, perhaps, will do without another round of land disputes, Ruslan Kutaev, President of the Assembly of Caucasian Nations, believes.

The issue remains open on who will manage the funds allocated for the creation of the park. "Most likely, Ramzan Kadyrov has 'knocked out' this project by the force of his authority; and it is likely that he will manage the project," Mr Kutaev believes.

A part of the park territory had really used to be a part of the "Erzi" nature reserve, Alexei Gunya, a geographer, has pointed out. Due to changes in the Chechen-Ingush border, part of the reserve ended up in the territory of Chechnya.