CHECHNYA LINKS LIBRARY

Ingush public worried about the situation in the republic

By Saida Kantysheva

INGUSHETIA - The current situation in the Republic of Ingushetia continues to attract increasing attention. Tension is growing, and a situation of conflict localized here is spreading further and further. Much interest surrounds the question of its origin, and the consequences it may have.

What follows are the views on this situation taken by a wide section of Ingush public opinion collected in the course of a sociological study on the topic "Republic of Ingushetia: Problems and Priorities".

A dominant majority – 75% of the respondents, who represent a variety of social and demographic groups – took a negative view of the situation in the republic. They expressed it with words like “emergent”, “ turbulent”, “dreadful”, “bad”, “critical”, “unpredictable” and “alarming”. 8% described it as “average”, while 16% preferred not to express their opinion on the matter.

The conflict situation in Ingushetia was characterized in such terms by 81% of the respondents, with only a relatively small number (18%) in disagreement.

It may be concluded that the present situation is indeed disturbing – for not a single respondent expressed a positive assessment of the situation.

The results of the study show that the people’s discontent is rooted in the policies of the republic’s government. Among the group that was polled for its opinion, not one person fully supports the policies of the Ingush government. 63% said they were dissatisfied with those policies, while 18% partially supported them, and some 18% remained neutral.

People tried to avoid express an opinion about the President. The most common response was to use expressions like "middling” [tak sebe] – 42% – or to cross out, omit or ignore this paragraph.

Asked why they were unwilling to answer the question, people replied: "I don’t want to say anything bad about the President, but I don’t want to say anything about him either." Directly negative attitudes were expressed by only 28%, while 14% said they had a positive view of the President.

In the mind of the Ingush masses the head of state must be a real Muslim and possess the qualities of intelligence, solicitude and enterprise. Historical personalities named as being the most authoritative were Peter the Great, Alexander the Great, Salahuddin, and Fidel Castro.

Here it is possible to discern an interesting conformity in people's preferences and priorities. People are attracted to figures who show strength in the fields of economics, politics and war, and are able to protect their nation, following a policy of broad expansion for the benefit of the state as a whole, and firmly upholding its interests.

Heading the list of authoritative figures is Peter the Great – a powerful ruler who above all understood economic interests and was sensitive to the sources of public wealth, enacting large-scale reforms and changes in all the sectors and areas of the country’s socio-economic and political life. Peter is seen as having uncovered problems that had gradually accumulated in society as it developed. In order to achieve the goals he set for himself he made people "grab fortune by the hair.” Conducting an active foreign policy, he made it his aim to create a mighty empire. Under him, Russia became a great power.

60% of respondents felt themselves to be subjected to oppression, which was noted in all areas of social life, but especially in the spheres of ethnicity, religion, culture and economics.

People believe that changes are needed in all the spheres of society without exception, though it is the areas of economics and politics that require most attention. The spiritual, social and cultural aspects of daily life were also mentioned, though by fewer respondents.

There is a general desire to see an optimistic, attractive and prosperous future for the republic, and to see the republic itself as decent, educated and Islamic. Some people said they would like to see Ingushetia with its former borders, i.e. with the territories it was stripped of.

People are also concerned about the future of Russia in general. They would like to see Russia as a country that is flourishing, rich, attractive and peaceful, a place that people would be proud of.

60% of respondents supported the policies of Russia, while 20% supported them only in part, and the percentages who expressed dissatisfaction with Russia’s policies ran only into single figures. Most of those interviewed felt nostalgia for the former Soviet Union, its power and glory. In Russia’s current President they see a man who in their view is close to “Soviet” values and priorities.

Attitudes towards Russia were prevalently good and positive (72%). 18% saw Russia in a negative light, or as “satisfactory”, while about 10% gave a neutral response.

People in general expressed a high degree of loyalty and friendship towards other nationalities, especially Chechens, who are close to the Ingush. The only exceptions were Ossetians. Here opinion was split roughly down the middle: one half of respondents took an openly negative attitude, while the other half remained neutral, saying it was impossible to generalize about an ethnic group, and that there were “bad apples” in all nationalities.

In this case there is a significant reason for the hostility: Ingushetia’s unresolved territorial claims on Northern Ossetia concerning the return and restoration of the old borders of its former territory, claims that are supported by some 70% of Ingush. "Our lands have been ruled for too long by foreigners, people who weren’t born here."

Account needs to be taken of the fact that there is discontent among Ingush about the loss of part of their land, that such discontent exists and is present in Ingush society, and that it may become a catalyst for conflict. It is reinforced by the current increase in tension and the harsh political, economic and social climate, the discontent with the local government, the poverty of the general population and the scarcity and the virtual absence of jobs in the republic. Here the figure is simply appalling: more than 90% of respondents commented on the complete lack of them.

If all the views expressed are taken as a whole, it is possible to draw the conclusion that the people of Ingushetia are living in a state of tension and fear of the future. For certain reasons to which the majority of the population are not privy, the tension continues to mount. People are presently experiencing conflict in society, manifested in problems connected with the economy, politics and crime. Every so often the latent tension spills over into public protests.

However, the results of the survey suggest that the Ingush people themselves are by no means in a state of conflict – they support Russia and its policies, and are friendly towards people of other ethnic groups.

(Translation by DM)

(T)