Cleanups: from Chechnya to Ingushetia

The Yamadayevs’ clan has long been suspected in Chechnya of human abductions. The former Ichkerian brigadier general Dzhabrail Yamadayev together with his relatives surrendered in 1999 the city of Gudermes to federal troops without army resistance. Perhaps for that he was then appointed a commander of the Russian defense ministry’s special forces company and became head of the United Russia party’s office in Chechnya. After unknown people blew up his house on March 5, he was awarded a title of Russia’s Hero.

Estimates of casualties suffered by the confronting parties in Argun also vary. The military and the press appear to agree only on one point, reporting the death of two civilians. Some sources claim they were a married couple, others say the two were two women who had arrived at Argun from the regional central town of Shali. On the morning of Saturday a “sweep-up” operation was launched in Argun which ran for two days. According to the military, two accomplices of armed separatists were rounded up in this raid, but Mojaheeds themselves “disappeared”.

The reason for this “clean-up” in Argun is obvious, the city just faced the battle. But the Ingush village of Arshty near the border with Chechnya has seen no armed clashes since the autumn of last year. And yet at 9 am last Friday federal forces in armored personnel carriers encircled the village. According to the public Chechen National Salvation Committee, Russian soldiers drove their armored vehicle into the courtyards of people who failed to be at home at that time. There were reports of looting. After the three and a half years of raids and looting, Chechens homes were stripped by Russian soldiers almost bare. Compared to Chechnya, Ingushetia looks prosperous.

Local authorities in Ingushetia, including the republican department of the Federal Security Service (FSB), appear to be powerless when orders come from their colleagues arrived from Chechnya. Here is an example of that. Though Arshty village was cordoned, a car carrying two FSB officials from the Nazran and Sunzhen regions in Ingushetia was allowed into the village. However, when the car, carrying seriously ill villager Ismail Albakov, was leaving the village, the military ordered the car to stop at the checkpoint. They dragged Albakov out of the car and took him away. Police officers from the Sunzhen police department in Ingushetia were not let into the village of Arshty though this village, according to Russia’s legislation, is within the area of their responsibility. Soldiers prevented locals from entering the sealed village. When the latter persevered, soldiers beat them. On Saturday, a crowd of locals gathered in front of the village administration, awaiting effective interference from Ingush president Zyazikov who, however, was too busy forming his new Cabinet.

Such is the return for Ingushetia’s consent to give shelter to Chechen refugees and for just being situated near the rebellious republic. As for Chechen refugees, they also are not allowed to live in peace ... In the wee hours on Saturday a military convoy of three UAZ vehicles and one PAZ bus came to a temporary refugee center organized at an abandoned farm on the outskirts of Nazran. Its inhabitants said the convoy comprised of both Russians and Chechens. Russians were not wearing masks, while Chechens were all in masks. The cow sheds in which these refugees, including small children, have been living for over three years were thoroughly searched. One of the refugees, Abubakar Ustarkhanov, 28-year-old father of four small children, was taken away. The raiders did not show his family any arrest warrant. Just grabbed him and took away ...