Paul
Goble
Staunton, January 2 – In the wake of
the deadly attack on the police post in Magas on New Year’s eve, Ingush head
Makhmud-Ali Kalimatov demanded an increase in security measures in the republic
across the board. Ingush officials have responded, but those from the North
Caucasus Federal District appear to have assumed an even larger role.
If that trend holds, it would mean
that in the coming months, the Federal District rather than the republic will
be the dominant player whenever Moscow defines the situation as involving security,
something it is likely to do if as seems likely protests against the border
agreements and mass detentions of demonstrators resume.
Kalimatov’s demand for enhanced
security at the emergency meeting of silovikis in the republic following the
attack on the police post has been the focus of republic media coverage, most
of which is simply repeating what was reported in the immediate aftermath of the
session
(serdalo.ru/2020/01/02/махмуд-али-калиматов-поручил-усилить-2/
and zamanho.com/?p=16220).
The police and prosecutors have
responded with alacrity, surrounding key institutions in the republic and
bringing charges against those involved. But behind that, there has been an
important shift: the North Caucasus FD has taken over both guarding functions
and prosecutions, reducing the Ingush units to onlookers (kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/344258/
and ingushetia.sledcom.ru/news/item/1426778/).
Meanwhile, in his New Year’s message
to the Ingush people, Kalimatov ignored both violence and political issues and
said that in the year ahead, he would work to improve housing, medicine, education,
sports and culture – “that is those spheres which are a priority for you and me”
(facebook.com/groups/2421953458084994/permalink/2527627340850938/).
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