Ingushetia Opposition Wants Separation from Russia

Ingushetia Opposition Wants Separation from Russia

www.lenta.ru

[translation from Russian]

The opposition party of the autonomous Republic of Ingushetia in southern Russia stated today that there is a possibility of them appealing to the world with the intention to separate from Russia. This was declared today on Echo of Mosvow radio station by the opposition spokesman Mahammed Hazbiev. He also said that the opposition plans to ask Europe of America to have them separated from Russia.

(visit the link for the full news article)


Related News Links:
www.lenta.ru
www.rosbalt.ru

Well it is pretty clear that the precedent for this is Russia's recognition of Abkhazia's and S Ossetia's independence after the Russian intervention in Georgia. Some Russians predicted that this may fuel some domestic separatist struggles.

A little background on Ingushetia, as it is very possible that we will hear more about it in the coming days and months:

When talking about Russia's separatists the first thing that comes to mind of course is Chechnya. However after two bloody wars, Chechnya is now ruled by a powerful pro-Kremlin warlord Ramzan Kadyrov. Chechnya has been mostly quiet since the war in Georgia began three weeks ago, largely thanks to Kadyrov's firm control. Kadyrov himself hinted that Chechnya has no intention to separate.

However very few have ever heard of Ingushetia. Ingushetia is a small Muslim autonomous republic neighboring Chechnya. The people there are very similar to Chechens in religion and traditions, but unlike Chechens have never rebelled against Russia. When war broke out in Chechnya in 1994, Ingushetia declared its nautrality. Ingushetia also saw lots of Chechen refugees who fled the neighboring war-ravaged republic.

Ever since the first Chechen War, Ingushetia also suffered from a Chechen insurgency and terrorist attacks. Ingushetia has remained turbulent ever since - and saw many attacks against Russian troops, local police, as well as assassinations and small terrorist attacks.

The Ingushetian local government is pro-Russian, while the opposition wants to separate - despite knowing what happened in Chechnya. Human rights organizations accused local government of keeping order via ruthless means. There are numerous forced disappearances and kidnapping in the area - likely purpetrated by the Ingush militia.



I will try to get more updates on the events. There were reported to be a major murder in the area, as well as multiple arrests. The situation is just unbreaking and has not reached any TV or Western news sources yet.

www.lenta.ru
(visit the link for the full news article)

Kremlin critic shot in Ingushetia


Yevloyev's website is said to be one of
the most visited for Ingush news

The owner of an internet site critical of the Russian authorities in the volatile region of Ingushetia has been shot dead in police custody.

Magomed Yevloyev, owner of the ingushetiya.ru site, was a vocal critic of the region's administration.

The Russian prosecutor's office said an investigation into the death had been launched, Russia media report.

A post on Yevloyev's site says he was detained by police after landing at the airport of the main town, Nazran.

The website owner was taken to hospital but died from his injuries.

Reports quoting local police said Yevloyev had tried to seize a policeman's gun when he was being led to a vehicle. A shot was fired and Yevloyev was injured in the head.

Fierce critic

Yevloyev was a thorn in the side of Ingush President Murat Zyazikov, a former KGB general.

His website reported on alleged Russian security force brutality in Ingushetia, an impoverished province of some half a million people, mostly Muslims, which is now more turbulent than neighbouring Chechnya.

President Zyazikov had been on the same flight as Yevloyev.

Ingushetia borders Chechnya and has suffered from overflowing unrest.

There is a low-level insurgency, with regular small-scale ambushes against police and soldiers.

In June 2008, the Human Rights Watch group accused Russian security forces there of carrying out widespread human rights abuses.

HRW said it had documented dozens of arbitrary detentions, disappearances, acts of torture and extra-judicial executions.

(Source: BBC)


Thanks for alerting us to this breaking story, Maloy. I think this is going to be big news.

[edit on 31-8-2008 by chips]

no chance of this happening, of course, do expect western media to add spin and propaganda to something like this

such insignificant oppoistion is of no use ....

even a minority Lakota native indian/hispanic community wants to secede from USA aka US empire

[edit on 31-8-2008 by manson_322]

Here's RIA Novosti on the "accidental" murder.


Police accidentally shoot dead owner of banned N.Caucasus website -2

MORE BREAKING NEWS:


It appears that a Senior opposition spokesman, who was also an owner of the Ingushtia's Opposition official website (which is banned by the government), was killed yesterday under questionable circumstances. This murder is what led to today's declaration by the opposition:


Death of Mahomed Evloev

(Translation from Russian - source in Russian)

The Ingush Opposition party has made a statement that owner of the banned opposition website (Ingushtia.ru) Mahomed Evloev was killed by Ingush police earlier today, when he tried to resist arrest. Russian authorities have innitiated an investigation proceeding into the death.

According to the news Caucasus Times, a related event happened yesterday - the unofficial Ingush parliament voted yesterday in favor of separation from Russia. The website of the mudered owner was the first to announce these news. The website went offline shortly. The opposition planned to innitiate an unofficial referendum today among the public. Meanwhile the official elected local government of Ingushetia has remained quiet.

www.lenta.ru...



Local Ingush Innitial Police Report on the Incident

The shooting happened in local airport "Magas". Evloev attempted to grab a policeman's assault rifle, after the police tried to detain him. In the ensuing struggle he was shot in the head. This is the police version.

Another version suggested by RIA News reporters is that Evloev was killed under unclear circumstances in the police car. The arrest was made related to an earlier explosion in Ingush city of Nazran. After he was shot inside the car, he was thrown out of the vehicle. His relatives who were supposed to meet him at the airport drove him to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

www.lenta.ru...

www.caucasustimes.com...

www.lenta.ru...



So far it is too early to jump to any conclusions. Evloev appears to be one of the senior members of the opposition. Very little is known in Russian press about the opposition or their "unofficial Ingush parliament". It is so far unclear what he had to do with Nazran bombings or how he was actually killed.

Russian investigators were dispatched to the area. The streets of Ingushetia appear to be quiet, and there is nothing suggesting any referrendum is taking place. It is possible that Ingush government has instituted a gag order. Multiple unknown arrests were made throughout the day and night.



My thoughts: Ingush separatists have used the opportunity of the war in Georgia to come out with their independence declaration. It is unclear whether the majority of Ingush population supports them or not. Most of the Russian army stationed in and around Ingushetia have left to Ossetia. It could go two ways from here:

1. The opposition makes a decision to take up arms, and oust the Ingush government in the capital of Magas. It is very possible that they have enough fighters and weapons to carry this out. However Russia will quickly rush in a portion of the 58th army that is now in Ossetia, while Kadyrov will also send over his own pro-Russian battalion. I have doubts that the opposition will be able to withstand this onslaught - unless of course all of this was planned many months ahead.

2. The Ingush governemtn has already instituted a martial law and a gag order - and arrested much of the opposition. Write now they are forced to prevent a possible coup, and have likely asked assistance from Russia or Chechnya.



I can say one thing - if violance breaks out, it could get real messy. I would not be surprised if the Chechen rebels used the opportunity of Russians being busy in Georgia to move their fighters north to Ingushetia (their fighting force could be over 1,000). If so, their intention is to plunge the region into chaos, and spread the fighting as soon as possible.

Hopefully any revolt has already been extinguished. If so, we will likely not hear much about it beyond these news.

Ahh so now since we have got to see the hypocrisy of America for the past 35 years maybe its the time to see Russia's hypocrisy. Im curious to see how this pans out but in the end just like here in America we will see a big spoonful of STFU from Russia.

reply to post by maloy


Maloy, do you think that this could be a CIA black ops .....


after all , the brezinski plan does call for destroying Russia

and Chechen insurgency was funded by saudis ,pakistanis and USA/West(indirect)

Originally posted by manson_322
Maloy, do you think that this could be a CIA black ops .....

No chance. If you know about what is going on in Chechnya and Ingushetia right now, you'd know that any Westerners would stick out very easily. Local pro-Kremlin militias (including the notorious Kadyrovtsy) are firmly in control of the area. Any sign of rebel attack - and they are there in an instant.

At this point it is not clear if the opposition innitiated the violance or the local government.

Originally posted by manson_322
after all , the brezinski plan does call for destroying Russia

There was violance in the Caucasus for two decades. Outside influence isn't much needed to spark the violance there. All the rebels and separatists need is an opportunity. Right now is a good opportunity:

1. Russia is already cast in the negative light in the West, and the separatists could appeal for help.

2. Part of the North Caucasus 58th army and Kadyrov's special forces battalions are in or near S Ossetia.

Originally posted by manson_322
and Chechen insurgency was funded by saudis ,pakistanis and USA/West(indirect)

Yes I know. At this point it is not clear if Chechens have any involvement here.

It was suggested in some Caucasus forums earlier this week that Chechen rebels have left hideout in the mountains in Chechnya, and are planning an attack somewhere in the area. Local police have been placed on alert about four days ago.

reply to post by maloy


Breaking:

US urges probe of journalist's death in Ingushetia

WASHINGTON, Sept 2 (Reuters) - The United States on Tuesday urged Russian authorities to investigate the killing of a journalist while in police custody in the turbulent Caucasus region of Ingushetia and to hold to account those responsible.

"It's very disturbing," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said of the death of opposition journalist Magomed Yevloyev, who died on Sunday after being shot in the head.

Police said he was shot after lunging for an officer's gun but his supporters and human rights groups said he was killed to snuff out dissent in Ingushetia, which neighbors Chechnya and North Ossetia in Russia's volatile Caucasus region.

"We're still gathering the details and some of the facts regarding this issue, but apparently this individual was in the custody of officials and ... was shot in the head," McCormack told reporters.

"So it is something that needs to be investigated. Russian officials need to get to the bottom of it. And there needs to be people held to account for what happened," he said.

Bombings, killings and police crackdowns have gripped Ingushetia over the past year and analysts say the instability could spread. The area is just north of Georgia where Russia fought a brief war last month over the separatist region of South Ossetia.

McCormack said Washington was still deciding how to make clear to Russia the "real costs" of its military intervention in Georgia. Washington was also considering what it might to to help Georgia's economy recover, he said.

Yevloyev was owner of the opposition Web site www.ingushetiya.ru, which Russian authorities have tried this year to close. He was the highest-profile Russian journalist to be killed since assassins shot investigative reporter Anna Politkovskaya at her Moscow apartment in October 2006.

(AlertNet)

[edit on 2-9-2008 by chips]

More news from Ingushetia today:

While the news have been mostly quiet about the province, some sources indicate that there has been widespread tension and violence there since the events that took place one week ago.

This article proves that the area is witnessing some major violance, perhaps even a mini-conflict.



Six militants killed by police in south Russia

en.rian.ru...

NAZRAN, September 7 (RIA Novosti) - Six suspected militants were killed during a shootout with police in Russia's North Caucasus republic of Ingushetia, a local police source said on Sunday.

The gunmen opened fire from two Russian-made Zhiguli cars at police officers, who were conducting a sweep of an area where a suspected militants' hideout had been earlier located.

"All suspected militants have been eliminated in the exchange of fire," the source said.

The bodies are now being identified. A vehicle search revealed a large number of weapons, ammunition and explosives.

The source did not confirm or deny earlier reports that two police officers were wounded in the skirmish.

It appears that my earlier predictions are true - the local authorities and the federal government have put down a possible separatist revoly, and are keeping a tight grip on the area. What we are seeing now are clean up operations.

The news from Ingushtia are still very few and far in between. No one in Russia really known what is going on there in reality - and I am sure this media black-out has a purpose.