ACPC Weekly News UPDATE
February 8, 2010 – February 14, 2010

Civilian casualties reported during counter-terrorist operation in Ingushetia

On Thursday, February 11, Russian federal forces in Ingushetia launched a major counter-terrorist operation in a mountainous area near the administrative border with Chechnya (see map). Troops used artillery fire and aerial strikes to target a group of up to twenty five militants holed up in the rugged terrain, believed by authorities to be under the command of rebel leader Dokka Umarov. On Friday, February 12, the Operational Command center in Ingushetia, which oversees all counter-terrorism operations in the republic, announced that at least fourteen militants had been killed during the offensive.

Following the announcement, however, new reports began to surface claiming that at least four of the bodies retrieved from the battle scene were innocent civilians from nearby Chechen villages. On Sunday, February 14, Ingush President Yunus-Bek Yevkurov confirmed the reports and sent his condolences to the victims’ families. The exact circumstances behind the civilians’ deaths were unclear. According to official accounts, the victims wandered into the battle zone while gathering wild leeks despite being warned of the ongoing operation and were killed accidentally during crossfire. Other official reports claimed that the militants had used the civilians as human shields.

Human Rights Center Memorial refuted the official claims and stated that federal troops shot the victims point blank, according to witness testimony. Memorial also stated that the victims were never informed of the impending counter-terrorist operation and that all four had been granted a permit from the Achkhoy-Martan city officials to travel to the region. Another Chechen resident who was among the group is still missing.

A statement by the Chechen government announced that president Ramzan Kadyrov would compensate the victims’ families, but reiterated the official version of events and described the deaths as accidental.

Clashes with militants have claimed the lives of almost thirty people in the past two weeks in the republics of Ingushetia, Chechnya and Dagestan.

Related articles:

Memorial press release on events of counter-terrorist operation in Ingushetia
Human Rights Center Memorial, February 15, 2009
Russian version of four deaths disputed
The New York Times, February 15, 2009
Russia activists say N.Caucasus civilians targeted
Reuters, February 15, 2009
Information about deaths of Chechen residents in Sunzhensky district contradictory
Caucasian Knot, February 15, 2009 (in Russian)
Russia says 20 killed in battle near Chechnya
Reuters, February 12, 2009

Medvedev announces new leader of Dagestan

Last week, Russian president Dmitry Medvedev announced his pick as the new  president of Dagestan, the  largest republic in the North Caucasus.

Medvedev appointed Magomedsalam Magomedov, 45, the son of a previous Dagestani president, a professor of economics and a prominent businessman. Magomedov, who was a vocal critic of the outgoing president, Mukhu Aliyev, vowed to unite Degestanis in order to face the myriad of challenges facing the republic and stated that he would create a cabinet based on competence and credibility, not clan loyalties.

Experts believe the appointment of Magomedov falls in line with Medvedev’s recently announced policy to concentrate on economic development to pacify the region, but were skeptical about Magomedov’s ability to effectively tackle widespread corruption, powerful clan interests and rising militant violence.

Related articles:

Postponed succession
Kommersant, February 15, 2010 (in Russian)
Russia names new leader for republic of Dagestan
The New York Times, February 8, 2009
Dagestan: Russia’s most overlooked hotspot
Foreign Policy, February 9, 2009

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Daily news from the region available at  http://www.peaceinthecaucasus.org/.