CHECHNYA LINKS LIBRARY

President replaced in North Ossetia

Alikhan Batayev

NORTH OSSETIA/INGUSHETIA – Teymuraz Mamsurov, local parliamentary chairman, was chosen President to replace Aleksander Dzasokhov, who has become North Ossetia’s representative in the Russian Federation Council.

Many political observers believe this might pave the way for resolving the Ossetian-Ingush problem of about 20,000 Ingush refugees.

Although Mamsurov is from Beslan and his son and daughter were among the hostages in that school siege last year, his actions will be regulated by Moscow as they approved him for this position. It is also quite possible that around 10,000 refugees, who were driven from their homes in the Prigorodny District 13 years ago, will soon return to their villages.

It should be noted that Dzasokhov was against speeding up the return of the refugees. He said the situation in Ossetia was “unstable” after the Beslan tragedy and that anti-Ingush sentiment was rapidly rising.

People in the neighbouring republic of Ingushetia believe the situation is not under control by either the Ossetian or Ingush authorities. When questioned by our PW correspondent, their unanimous opinion was that if the Kremlin so desires it, it is possible that the Prigorodny District problem could be resolved in the shortest period of time.

Following are some opinions of Ingush citizens about the leadership change in the neighbouring republic:

Hava Ganiyeva, medical college student

I don’t think the events in Ossetia should affect us; it’s necessary for people to return to their homes. That’s what Mamsurov should do since Dzasokhov could not.

Aslan Pliyev, unemployed in Nazran

As long as the Ingush cannot return to their land, there will be no peace between us and the Ossetians. Of course we won’t go to war, but the situation also cannot remain as it is as we have neither war nor peace. And the Ossetians, together with the Russians, do not want us to return home.

Azamat Gadaborshev, car service station attendant in Nazran

The presidential change in Ossetia changes nothing. I heard that Mamsurov is a Mafioso, which is quite possible. In Beslan they produce vodka and spirits and make big money. I always regarded the Ossetians as foreigners even though we’re neighbours and our Ingush people travel back and forth to Vladikavkaz. The sooner they understand they need to live in peace with the Ingush, the better it will be for them.

Mairbek Ganizhev, taxi driver

Times are hard for Ossetia as well as Russia. Russia is falling apart and Putin is doing all he can to hold it together. And I think the dissolution of Russia will start in the Northern Caucasus. So we will see who will control Prigorodny and the other areas. The Ossetians have forgotten that they live among Muslim republics; and Mamsurov should remember that as well. I personally have nothing against the Ossetians, but the situation is simply the way it is. I have bad premonitions about it, as do many other people I know.

(MG/E,T,B)