Kalimatov Calls on Ingush Parliament to Discuss All Draft Laws with Population

Paul Goble

            Staunton, July 4 – Makmud-Ali Kalimatov, the acting head of Ingushetia, told Magomed Yandiyev that the republic’s Popular Assembly should discuss all draft laws with the population (ingushetia.ru/news/makhmud_ali_kalimatov_vazhnye_zakonoproekty_dolzhny_v_obyazatelnom_poryadke_prokhodit_protseduru_obshch/).

            Given that the Assembly did not do so in the case of the border accord Yunus-Bek Yevkurov signed with Chechnya’s Ramzan Kadyrov that gave away 26,000 hectares of Ingushetia’s land, many Ingush are cautiously optimistic that Kalimatov’s call opens the way for a reconsideration of that and other actions by his predecessor.

            But three other developments in Ingushetia in the last 24 hours show that many of the practices of the Yevkurov regime are far from being overcome and that Kalimatov will have to act quickly and decisively lest the honeymoon he now has with the Ingush people end and new protests begin.

            First, police so brutally beat a seven-year old girl that she has had to flown to Moscow for specialized treatment.  That treatments is being paid for by the Ingush community of the Russian capital (06.мвд.рф/news/item/17476343 and zamanho.com/?p=10156).

            Second, the Supreme Court of Kabardino-Balkaria rejected an appeal by Barakh Chemurziyev to shorten his detention. He is one of the protest leaders now being held outside of the republic until September 25. His lawyer says he will appeal this decision (zamanho.com/?p=10138).

            And third, Ingush officials overseeing the Memorial Complex to Victims of Political Repression are continuing their firings of those working there who took part in the demonstrations against Yevkurov and his decisions (zamanho.com/?p=10104).