HRC "Memorial": authorities incite the society of Ingushetia against themselves

Today, the Independent Press Centre in Moscow has held presentation of the report prepared by the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" entitled: "Ingushetia 2007. Where Now?", presenting a review of the events that took place in the Republic in 2007 and containing recommendations to the authorities of the region and heads of power agencies on how to remedy the situation; the report also provides a possible scenario of developments for 2008.

The document already available in the website of the "Memorial" runs that in the second half of 2007 the situation in the Republic of Ingushetia had catastrophically aggravated. On the one hand, the hitherto unprecedented militants' activities was marked: in July, August, September and October the Republic was a source of almost everyday news about attacks on state officials, land mine explosions and bombardments. On the other hand, human rights activists draw attention to the fact that power agents were fighting militants by roughly breaking human rights.

"We never doubt the need to fight on terrorism, however, the fight shall be conducted according to the legislation of the Russian Federation and international obligations in the sphere of human rights undertaken by the country," state the authors of the report.

In the opinion of the HRC "Memorial", the situation in Ingushetia demands the most steadfast attention of all the RF's power tiers and international bodies.

Alexander Cherkasov, a Board member of the HRC "Memorial", has noted at the presentation that "yet a couple of years ago the population of Ingushetia was ready to support the government in its fight against militants, but the latter has incited the Ingush society against itself by use of irresponsible and frankly lawless methods - tortures and kidnappings."