Early 2008. What is coming next?

6. Early 2008. What is coming next?

Achievement reports submitted by the “siloviks” are contradictory. The Ingush authorities are still helpless against the underground terror, and do nothing to counter another threat - mass and gross violations of human rights under the guise of “fighting terrorism”; moreover, they resort to “counter-terror” as a tool of ruling the republic (see below).

Meanwhile, the situation in the republic evolves in a convoluted way - each new crime is followed by mass rallies that the authorities try to suppress.

A mass rally was planned for 10:00 a.m., January 26, at the Concord Square in Nazran. Though the organizers called it “In support of President Putin’s course, against corruption and terrorism”, the key message was a protest against actions and inactions of the local authorities.

Rally organizers took account of previous protest actions, and in line with the law, submitted a timely notification about their intention to hold a rally to the authorities⁸¹.

The authorities did not allow the rally. On January 21, the Ingush Prosecutor issued a warning to Maksharip Aushev, a rally organizer, about the inadmissibility of breaking the law during the rally but failed to provide explanations about expected violations, - though the authorities are not entitled to ban a public event.

On the other hand, in some cases conscientious citizens, much as they respect the law, just cannot stay away from a public activity banned by the authorities. In this case, the organizers take upon themselves the responsibility for the consequences and should do everything possible to minimize the number of provocations.

On January 25, part of the Republic of Ingushetia was declared a “zone of the counter-terrorist operation” - allegedly, acts of terror were expected at places of mass gatherings.

Still, the rally did take place on January 26. Cruelly dispersed, it entailed clashes with law enforcers trying to prevent the rally.

Teenagers were the first to enter the square and face OMON⁸², while an adult man with a loudspeaker persuaded them not to be scared and promised that everything would be OK. When OMON crushed the first row of the thin column, sacks with stones and Molotov cocktails prepared beforehand started coming in from the fringe of the crowd. After the square emptied, fire was set on several public buildings in Nazran.

Acts of vandalism - arson and pogroms - may discredit any idea. They are impermissible as a protest tool, no matter how justified. The intifada-like event we witnessed on January 26 is as inadmissible as the use of force by the authorities attempting to prevent citizens from realizing their constitutional right to assembly and meetings.

There are some questions related to the “charitable” (in reality - free) lottery that the organizers used to attract people to the rally⁸³; it does not combine well with the rallying point, i.e. promotion of fair elections and protests against abductions.

Over 40 people were detained, among them 12 journalists and human right activists. Eight of them, as militia put it, were “deported” from Ingushetia - as if it has already seceded from the Russian Federation, while the two journalists that filmed the burning building were accused of arson (sic!) ⁸⁴.

The Ingush authorities should have allowed the rally, and, in line with the law⁸⁵, provided for order and security of both participants and the rest of the population. It would have been much easier than fighting with the crowd especially when one cannot tell apart peaceful participants and provocateurs, thugs and hooligans. We consider the use of electric shockers, tear gas and rude arrests as disproportionate and inadmissible.

***

Evidently, the situation in the republic has reached a dead end. However, the problems and the outlines of this dead end are not exclusively Ingush, but rather all-Russian.

***

The “Kabardino-Balkarian” scenario is quite possible, although in Ingushetia Muslims have never been persecuted as openly as in Kabardino-Balkaria; more often “non-traditional Muslims” fall victims to extrajudicial killings and violations of human rights. In every region, there are lists of the so-called "Wahhabis" who are under close surveillance of the law enforcement agencies, are subject to regular detentions and often to tortures. If the anti-terrorist operation stretches beyond the legal framework, as likely as not this part of the Muslim community will choose extreme and violent protest tools. Only terrorists will benefit from such developments.

The “Chechen scenario” is also possible: extrajudicial killings, tortures and falsified criminal cases will result in such public “cleansing” that society will be under 100% control due to the climate of fear that has permeated the republic.

Amid unemployment, low educational level and economic backwardness, violations of human rights will lead to stronger radicalization of the youth. Ingushetia, similarly to the best part of the Muslim Caucasus, will turn into a third world country with strong Jihad-supporting trends instead of moving towards the European democratic values.

7. Recommendations

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  Carrying out adequate investigation into cases of human rights violations and bringing the perpetrators to accountability.
  
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  Having the Prosecutor-General of the Russian Federation conduct a comprehensive revision of the activities of law enforcement agencies and the Prosecutor's Office in the region. In particular, it is essential to examine all cases related to illegal armed formations that have been investigated in these republics; in case of verified evidence of torture and forced confessions, to send the cases for re-investigation and re-trial.
  
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  Putting an end to common practices of “temporary disappearances” of detainees. In order to decrease the risk of torture and other illegal retaliation regarding detainees and to guarantee legal rights of their family members, it is essential to ensure expedient provision of information to relatives on the whereabouts of the detainees.
  
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  Instructing members of federal and local law enforcement agencies by their superiors about the absolute necessity of observing human rights in fulfilling their functions and about their accountability for performing criminal orders of higher authorities and officials.
  
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  Providing adequate legal and judicial protection and due compensations to victims of human rights violations.
  
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  Guaranteeing international humanitarian organizations, including the ICRC, access to places of temporary and pre-trial detention for visitation of prisoners on conditions agreeable for these organizations.
  
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  Cooperating with human rights protection mechanisms of the Council of Europe and the United Nations including special procedures of the UN Human Rights Commission and treaty bodies of the Council of Europe and the UN.
  
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  Effectively cooperating with the Anti-torture Committee of the Council of Europe.
  
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  Extending necessary assistance to Russian and international human rights organizations in their monitoring activities in the North Caucasus. Cooperating with such organizations towards eradicating the atmosphere of impunity and improving the human rights situation in the region.
  

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  Republican leadership should stop the policy of non-interference in cases related to violations of human rights on the territory of Ingushetia. Ingush officials should provide a tough response to all cases of violation of norms of the Russian legislation during special operations.
  
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  Republican leadership should boost the efforts of local law enforcement agencies and to reduce to the minimum the involvement of law enforcement agencies from other regions commissioned to the republic.
  
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  Republican leadership should provide permission to conduct rallies, processions, etc. within the law and to lift unjustified restrictions on the freedom of speech and opinion.