Protests without borders: eternity smells oil, while Ingush opposition intends to continue rallies

In late March, a series of protest rallies were held in the Republic of Ingushetia resulting in civil disturbances. After a clash between the protesters and law enforcement officers in Magas, the Investigations Directorate in the North Caucasus Federal District of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation (ICR) has instituted a criminal case. Dmitry Kava, Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Ingushetia, has resigned; 19 operatives of the detached patrol and guard service battalion of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) for the Republic of Ingushetia were dismissed. Despite the seeming stabilization in the region, disturbances continue, while the law enforcement structures carry out operative and investigative actions in the framework of criminal cases instituted against the leaders and participants of the mass riots. The formal reason behind the protests is a territorial dispute: in September 2018, an agreement delineating the administrative border between Chechnya and Ingushetia and having oil-related implications was signed. The CrimeRussia was figuring out what is going on in the republic, who is rocking the situation, and how serious could be the consequences of the ‘Ingush spring’.

Disputed territory and oil trace

To understand the situation in Ingushetia, it is necessary to go back to its recent history. The two republics united in the framework of the Chechen–Ingush Autonomous Soviet Social Republic have separated in the 1990s, after the ascension of Dzhokhar Dudayev to power, and it was necessary to delineate the administrative border between them. In 1993, Dzhokhar Dudayev and Ruslan Aushev, then-heads of the republics, have signed an agreement. Under that agreement, the Sunzha district became, except for Sernovodsky and Assinvsky settlements, a part of Ingushetia. Since then, both republics had considered the district their territory – although, officially, it belonged to Ingushetia. According to a public census carried out in 2013, the population of the district is some 120 thousand people – although this figure may be overestimated.

On September 26, 2018, Yunus-Bek Yevkurov and Ramzan Kadyrov, the current heads of the two republics, have signed an agreement fixing the administrative border between Chechnya and Ingushetia. According to this agreement, a portion of the Sunzha district considered by the Ingush people a part of their land has been transferred to Chechnya. On October 16, 2018, the agreement has come into effect, and protest rallies began in Ingushetia. The Constitutional Court of the Republic has ruled that such an agreement may be enacted only through a referendum – while the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation concluded that it is legitimate. Therefore, the federal center has supported the Head of Chechnya in this territorial dispute.

The Sunzha district is a disputed territory

The Ingush people have also remembered the transfer of the Prigorodny district to the Republic of North Ossetia – Alania in 1992. At that time, an armed conflict occurred between the Ossetian and Ingush residents of that district; some 600 people were killed, almost 1 thousand – wounded, and more than 200 persons went missing in action. 

“The signed agreement does not affect settlements of the two republics; it fixes the borders in the mountainous and forested areas. We agreed not to install posts between us; all the roads will be opened, repaired, and paved,” – Yunus-Bek Yevkurov said in fall 2018 and emphasized that, in the last 26 years, skirmishes and firefights had continuously occurred in the border area, while the Sunzha district was criminalized. In other words, the Ingush authorities were unable to establish law and order on this, in fact, uncontrolled territory. Yevkurov also asked not to speculate on the border issue and not to succumb to provocative actions of those willing to “escalate the territorial agenda”.

Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, Head of the Republic of 

General Yunus-Bek Yevkurov has been in charge of Ingushetia since 2008. At the time of his appointment, a true civil war was ongoing in the republic. He managed to mediate the situation; in October 2018, amid the scandal with the border with Chechnya, the Parliament of the Republic of Ingushetia has yet again extended his term of office (for the last time). Yevkurov has been re-appointed, while the sensitive border issue – taken off the table. 

In September 2018, Vladimir Putin signed a decree transferring 100% of shares in state-owned Chechenneftekhimprom Open Joint Stock Company to the region. This also explains the signing of the agreement between the Heads of Ingushetia and Chechnya: the eternity smells oil.

"The Center has transferred the entire oil processing sphere to Ramzan Kadyrov. Yevkurov signed the agreement because he had no choice: the authority of Kadyrov at the federal level is perfect. Illegal oil extraction has been ongoing in the Sunzha district all the time. It is run by Batlaks – ethnic Chechens who became a separate kind of Ingush people but do not consider themselves Ingush and live apart of them. In fact, this is an organized criminal Batlak clan, and Kadyrov is going to bring it to heel. Overall, there are plenty of national nuances there; not everything is that simple... In Ingushetia, the council of elders of Ingush clans makes all important decisions. It is believed that Yevkurov has signed the agreement with Chechnya against the will of his clan, and the council of elders cursed house Yevkurov. It is logical that the main issue raised by the opposition at protest rallies is the resignation of Yevkurov. Many people consider him a pro-Russia politician. He is now going through hard times. On the other hand, the Ingush opposition is in horror of Kadyrov," – a source from the North Caucasus told The CrimeRussia.

Interestingly, Yunus-Bek Yevkurov is the prototype of one of the central characters in recent movie hit “The Balkan Line” – a soldier codenamed Bek and played by Gosha Kutsenko. Being a direct participant of the legendary march of Russian armored vehicles to the Pristina airport in 1999, Yevkurov has personally made numerous amendments to the 220-page film script.

Unrest in Magas 

However, Yevkurov was unable to take the territorial issue off the table for long: the ‘recovery of lands' and ‘restoration of historical justice' ideas fueled from the outside became popular among Ingush ‘patriots', and, in late March, reports about protests in Ingushetia hit the headlines again. Photos and videos showing ‘peaceful protesters' armed with stones and metal rods and attacking special force troopers wearing police batons appeared on social networks. Some experts started discussing the ‘Ingush spring', protest rallies turned into mass disturbances, and additional National Guard forces have been deployed in the republic on an urgent basis.

On March 26, 2019, an authorized rally was held on Idrisa Zyazikova avenue in Magas, the capital of Ingushetia. Provocative statements made during the public event had fueled the Ingush nationalism. Some speakers claimed that the Ingush people need neither Russians, nor Ossetians, nor Chechens, while the Head of the Regional Red Cross Branch promised to bring "the corpses of those sitting in the Administration, Parliament, and Government of the Republic of Ingushetia..." Amid the threats and calls for the resignation of Yunus-Bek Yevkurov and dissolution of the Parliament, no clearly formulated ‘territorial claims' were expressed. Still, the nationalism and aggression towards the neighbors and law enforcement structures incited many people to walk away from the public rally declared indefinite by its organizers. Since 6 p.m., the event, in accordance with the notification, ceased to be legitimate.

Protest rally in Magas 

On the morning of March 27, 2019, several hundred Ingush people led by the local opposition have blocked a section of Caucasus Federal Highway near Nazran, thus, paralyzing the transportation near Ekazhevsky Circle. Clashes with the police began.

Dirty technologies of ‘color-coded revolutions’ were broadly used, including calls not to go home and wait for reinforcements, chairs and metal rods thrown in the police officers, and Internet ‘reports’ presenting the riots as “nation-wide resistance”. However, in the evening, the protesters have unblocked the highway, and the situation partially stabilized.

Foreign traces 

In the meantime, opposition online portals in Ingushetia had shamelessly used all known double standards techniques. For instance, it was announced on the Internet that a police officer had allegedly refused to fulfill the orders of his command and submitted an official letter dated March 27, 2019. The MIA for the Republic of Ingushetia has officially refuted this information and stated that it was inconsistent with the reality and fake.

A foreign agent representing the Bellona Foundation actively supporting inter alia the LGBT movement delivered a speech at the protest rally. Many Ingush people were perplexed: what was this person doing in the republic? And why does the opposition use such weird characters?

According to Ingush people, this orator has “illuminated the republic in rainbow colors”

The locals were also confused with the stance of the Ingush community of Finland – it has supported the ‘peaceful protesters’ and warned the regional authorities that any violent actions against them would cause protest rallies throughout Europe.

Honorable American citizen Malka Shafar (nee Malika Ozdoeva-Shagaraeva) representing a Republican Congressman has also made a contact from New York. The lady nicknamed Madame in Ingushetia has fled Russia many years ago escaping from Putin who had allegedly personally threatened her life and joined the American politics “with love to Ingushetia”.

In the context of the protest events, she recorded a ‘motivation message’ in support of “battered peaceful citizens” claiming that “the problem of her nation living under the oppression must be solved”. Shafar-Malika Ozdoeva-Shagaraeva has guaranteed from New York that “not a single criminal step of the authorities will be left unanswered”. However, the local people found out that she allegedly is not an Ingush woman – but a provoker.

The ‘pseudo-Ingush woman’ with an Israeli flag at a rally in the USA 

In fact, the best response to such ‘patriots’ was the reaction of the Ingush people – those who don’t support the attempt of the opposition to explode the situation in the region.

It is necessary to note that two online portals have supported the participants of mass disorders in Ingushetia: Caucasian Knot administered from abroad through grants and Golosislama.com moderated by anti-Russian extremists hiding from justice in Turkey. In addition, the Ukrainian media have actively backed the protests.

‘Peaceful protests’ and criminal cases

The ‘peaceful protest rally' has logically resulted in the institution of criminal cases under Article 212 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (mass riots). In addition, the Investigations Directorate in the North Caucasus Federal District of the ICR instituted a criminal case under part 2 of Article 318 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (use of violence endangering the lives or health of representatives of the power). According to the ICR, ten officers of the National Guard and MIA for the Republic of Ingushetia were injured during the unauthorized rally; two of them still remain in hospitals.

"In America, they would shot you dead for this, and they would be right. Police officers perform a crucial function – protection of public order. There would be chaos without them. The policemen ensure compliance with the law – this is why this branch of power is called executive. Our legislation stipulates the maximum punishment for attacking them – life in prison because of the moratorium on the death penalty. Prior to attacking a police officer, just think: do you really need this?" – Stalina Gurevich, an Ingush lawyer and TV host, has commented on the protests. 

Many rioters had actively advertised their ‘exploits’ on social networks, thus, providing the law enforcement authorities with evidence. For instance, the active protesters throwing chairs and other items in National Guard officers during the unauthorized rally in Magas were quickly identified.

‘Peaceful protesters’ facing criminal prosecution 

The Magas District Court has found a group of local people guilty under part 6.1 of Article 20.2 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation (violating the established procedure for arranging or conducting a meeting, rally, demonstration, procession or picket). Four activists (Sh.B. Didigov, A.U. Archakov, U.B. Goigov, and A.A. Vyshegurov) have been sentenced to 10 days under arrest; two more people (A.M. Balakhoev and R.B. Bokov) have been fined 20 thousand rubles ($305). 

It is necessary to note that the leaders of the protests, who had undertaken responsibility for a peaceful rally and then fueled the tension, have abandoned and betrayed the protesters. For instance, Barakh Chemurziev, Chairman of Backbone of Ingushetia Public Movement, has disengaged from hooligans he had earlier instigated to violate the law. The following leaders have followed his example: elder Akhmed Barakhoev; Akhmed Pogorov, ex-Head of the MIA for the Republic of Ingushetia; opposition activists Magomed Mutsol’gov and Saradzhin Sultygov; etc.

Akhmed Barakhoev

Barakh Chemurziev

Akhmed Pogorov

Protest leaders Chemurziev, Barakhoev, and Pogorov tried to escape responsibility for the riots 

However, their attempts to escape liability failed. Barakh Chemurziev was summoned, together with his comrades Ismail Nal’giev, Musa Mal’sagov, and Bagaudin Khautiev, to the ICR for questioning. Upon becoming aware that he has attracted the attention of the law enforcement authorities, Akhmed Pogorov immediately turned off his phones and disappeared. However, he was arrested in Karabulak soon and escorted for interrogation.  

At 6 a.m. on April 3, 2019, the law enforcement authorities launched a complex of operative and investigative actions in the framework of the criminal cases instituted against Barakh Chemurziev, Musa Mal’sagov, Zarifa Sautieva, Akhmed Barakhoev, and other rioter leaders. 

Operatives check residences of the suspects 

“At 6 a.m., the operatives surrounded the homes of protest leaders. Telephones were seized not only from the activists – but from their relatives as well. According to my information, residences of six members of the Ingush Committee of National Unity and Mufti of Ingushetia Isa Khamkhoev have been searched. Arrests predicted by many people after the protest rally began,” – Ruslan Mutsol’gov, Head of the Ingush Branch of the Russian United Democratic Party (Yabloko), told journalists.

Ruslan Mutsol’gov, Head of the Ingush Branch of Yabloko Party

According to available information, heavy armor, law enforcement detachments, and military forces have been deployed in the region. Some ten people have been detained, residences of more than 20 rioters were searched. During the search of the home of Akhmed Barakhoev in Novy Redant, an illegal gas tie-in was discovered. Barakhoev used it to heat his house for a long time without paying a dime to the republican budget. 

Aleksander Matovnikov, Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the North Caucasus Federal District, has discussed the situation in the republic with Yunus-Bek Yevkurov during their meeting in Magas. Matovnikov noted that the federal center is monitoring the events in Ingushetia.

Work meeting of Aleksander Matovnikov and Yunus-Bek Yevkurov 

On March 29, Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said that the Kremlin is closely watching the situation in the republic as well. In the meantime, the police conduct raids and seize weapons throughout Ingushetia. It is now commonly understood that the people responsible for the mass riots won’t escape responsibility.    

‘Shakeout’ of local law enforcement structures 

The other side of the story is that the civil unrest in Ingushetia resulted in some changes in the Regional MIA. Immediately after the mass protests, the detached patrol and guard service battalion of the Police Border Service of the MIA for the Republic of Ingushetia was disbanded. The battalion consisted of 375 servicemen; a half of them were transferred to the District MIA Department for the City of Nazran, while the other half – under the command of the District MIA Department for the City of Sunzha. According to the MIA for the Republic of Ingushetia, this was an organizational staffing measure, and the total police manpower in the region remains the same. 

A day earlier, on March 29, 2019, nineteen operatives of the above-mentioned detached patrol and guard service battalion were dismissed. These officers were ordered not to participate in the dispersal of the protest rally in Magas – but interfered into actions of law enforcement operatives dispatched from other regions. In addition, they were accused of insufficient activity during the fulfillment of their direct duty – crackdown on the protesters. 

"SWAT troopers from other regions were ordered to disperse the rally. Our officers were instructed not to interfere. But the crowd started beating these operatives – and our policemen had to take them away from the protesters. They could not be left in the mob – the rioters could crush them! Our officers helped them, they were between them and the civilians. Now it is presented as if they had obstructed the crackdown on the riot. They were dismissed without reason," – an officer of the detached patrol and guard service battalion told MediaZona online portal on condition of anonymity. 

A few days later, it became known that 50-year-old Dmitry Kava, Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Ingushetia, has resigned. Yuri Murav’ev, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs and Head of the Investigative Department of the MIA for the Republic of Ingushetia, has been appointed the Acting Minister. 

Dmitry Kava

On April 3, 2019, some Ingush officers of the National Guard regiment deployed in Nazran were detained and escorted for interrogation for disobedience to the order to disperse the protest rally. 

Apparently, these actions have been taken due to the failure of one of the elements of the regional law enforcement system during the riots. It was likely decided to make certain changes to ensure the effectiveness of the policing structures. Based on the recent events, the republican police still have plenty of work to do.    

‘Comedy’ continues? 

Overall, the protests in Ingushetia have adversely affected the general situation in the region: the opposition leaders and their supporters made the republic a zone of risk. The civil disturbances have divided the society. Despite the optimistic reports about the stabilization, the social and criminal situation in Ingushetia is escalating. The radicalism, earlier eliminated by the regional authorities, has been manifested again by some young people not very skilled in the politics but determined to commit unlawful actions against the state and law enforcement structures. As a result, the authorities had to establish federal roadblocks again and conduct raids.  

The violence has automatically outlawed the rioters. In other words, the opposition leaders have taken charge of the protest and brought it to a deadlock. It became known that the Election Committee of the Republic of Ingushetia has refused to register the initiative group for the referendum on the border with Chechnya. The reason behind the refusal was purely formal: paperwork irregularities. According to the Press Service of the Election Committee, “it is impossible to establish the very fact of the creation of a respective initiative group and legitimacy of its request to initiate a referendum submitted to the Republican Election Committee”. 

In the meantime, the Ingush Committee of National Unity has submitted a notification about another protest rally in Magas against the border agreement with Chechnya scheduled to April 5–9, 2019. 

However, the Ingush authorities refused to authorize this event due to the late notice: the notification had to be submitted 10–15 days before the date of the rally, while the organizers submitted it one day later. The formal refusal hasn't discouraged above-mentioned opposition activist Barakh Chemurziev – he said that the ‘strike committee’ is going to submit a protest rally notification for April 10–11, 2019. It is obvious that the interested parties will continue escalating the situation in Ingushetia under the pretext of a ‘pseudo-public movement for justice’ orchestrated from abroad.

“Currently, we are holding consultations to understand how to react to the unjustified and illegal reprisals of the authorities, searches, and arrests of leaders of public protests in Ingushetia by enforcement structures. We know that no one is irreplaceable, and it is impossible to detain the entire Ingush nation. May Allah help us in good deeds!” – opposition activist Magomed Mutsol'gov, founder of MASHR Autonomous Noncommercial Organization, wrote. One can only speculate whom the Ingush opposition is consulting with and what “good deeds” are discussed.

The Ingush opposition complains about reprisals

In the course of the fall rallies, Ingush protesters have insulted Ramzan Kadyrov by calling him a descendant of beni clan, which means “herdsman” in the Ingush language. In response, Kadyrov invited the neighbors to hold their rallies on territories transferred to Chechnya. 

“If you are real men, come to my land and hold a rally there. If you return home alive after that, then you were right about me,” – the Head of the Chechen Republic said in fall. Ramzan Kadyrov hasn’t provided any comments on the March events – no one dared to stage a rally on his territory. 

In the meantime, it became known that the ‘cadastral battles’ in the North Caucasus have expanded to Dagestan as well: its residents suddenly discovered that 89 ha of their land in the border area of the Kizlyar district now belong to Chechnya. 

According to Ullubii Erbolatov, an administrative officer of the People’s Assembly of Dagestan, this was done unilaterally: in the course of the boundary alignment, lands have been transferred to the adjacent republic. The Dagestani authorities have already submitted a request to annul these changes to the Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the North Caucasus Federal District and the Parliament of the Republic of Chechnya. 

It is necessary to note that Dagestan decided to ‘adjust’ its border with Chechnya in late 2018 – apparently, in the wake of the protests in Ingushetia. In February 2019, the border delineation has commenced – and disputed areas were immediately identified.

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