Chechen refugees in Ingushetia are afraid of forced repatriationRuslan Isayev, Northern Caucasus - Chechen refugees staying in Ingushetia are concerned about their rumoured repatriation back to Chechnya. They are afraid that all refugee camps will be closed after the inauguration of the new Ingush president. They have been living in Ingushetia in torn tents, animal farms and various farm buildings in terrible conditions for almost three years due to at least minimal guarantees of safe life in Chechnya and now they are expecting the worst developments.
A day after the Ingush presidential elections, plain-clothed young men arrived at a refugee camp Bela in Ordzhonikidzevskaya, walked around the camp and shouted: „Go home!“. Refugees believe it was a planned action which should provoke them to revenge. This happened in the daytime although Ingush Interior Ministry guards who are constantly watching after the camp did not take any measures to stop them. The unknown "law enforcers" then easily left after a while.
This was not the first case of activities aimed at provoking Chechen refugees. Something similar happened in camps Bart (Karabulak), Altiyevo and others. Since February 2000 Russian authorities have several times tried to expel Chechen refugees from Ingushetia to the battle-zone, but thanks to the stout position of former Ingush president Ruslan Aushev these plans have not come true.
Today the situation could change extremely. Russian minister for the affairs of the Chechen Republic Vladimir Yelagin recently stressed that he links the election of the new Ingush President with a solution to „the issue of Chechen refugees“. Undoubtedly, he meant their „voluntary-forced“ return to their homeland.
|
