Local Wahhabis seemingly behind night-time raid in IngushetiaTimur Aliyev, North Caucasus - The Monday night attacks on policemen in Ingushetia were believed to have been undertaken by Ingush Wahhabis, according to remarks made by local inhabitants.
The insurgents took control of all police posts along the federal road and at the entrance to Nazran, and held all the policemen as hostages. Then, pretending to check documents, they stopped every car passing by. If any of the papers proved that either the driver or passenger were members of the Federal Security Service, Prosecutor's Office or Criminal Investigation Department, they were taken out of the car and shot. However, low-ranking policemen and civilians were not harmed.
Meanwhile, several armed groups were simultaneously storming the building of the Ingush Interior Ministry, Nazran’s municipal police station, a border patrol station and ammunition dumps; and in Karabulak and Sleptsovsk they attacked the special police OMON buildings.
After nearly three hours the battles ceased and the attackers withdrew.
Local inhabitants insist that these attacks were carried out by local Wahhabis along with Chechens. "It was locals who did it. Only they know Nazran and Ingushetia so well," said Nazran resident Magomed Khutiyev.
This was more or less confirmed by Issa Kostoyev, Ingushetia's deputy to Russia's Federation Council. He blamed the guerrillas’ attacks of high-ranking officials, including the acting Interior Minister of the Republic, as revenge for recent successful operations that eliminated various "bandit groups" and their leaders.
Locals believe the action had been planned beforehand and carried out in retaliation for the unauthorized arrests of young people in Ingushetia, which have become quite frequent lately. According to the Russian human right organization Memorial, nearly 100 people were kidnapped in Ingushetia this year alone.
The Ingush Interior Ministry announced that the insurgents came from North Ossetia and Chechnya. According to the Ingush Health Ministry, several dozen people were killed and scores wounded in the attacks.
Among the dead were: acting Ingush Interior Minister Abukar Kostoyev, his deputy Ziyadin Kotiyev, Nazran’s public prosecutor Mukharbek Buzurtanov, public prosecutor of the Nazranovsky district Belan Oziyev, the head of the Postal Service of Ingushetia Mukharbek Malsagov and the former head of the Migration Service of Ingushetia Magomed Gireyev. Nearly all these officials were shot as they arrived at the building, stated the Ministry’s press office.
The Ingush officials did not reveal whom they believe were the attackers; and the Interior Ministry only announced that they were going to hold a meeting. Many high-ranking federal officials gathered for this meeting in Magas, including Russian President Vladimir Putin as well as Vyacheslav Dadonov, commander of the Joint Troops Group in Northern Caucasus.
At the meeting Putin said, "I have already given Moscow relevant instructions and let me repeat again that a regiment of the Interior Ministry troops will be located in Nazran; and in cooperation with the Defense Ministry measures will be taken to boost the security at the airport.”
Nevertheless, the battles that took place are regarded by most of the Ingush populace as just another attack on the reputation of Ingush President Murat Zyazikov. "If Ruslan Aushev had remained as our president, he would never have let this happen."
(T,S/E) RELATED ARTICLES:
· Guerrillas carry out coordinated attacks in Ingushetia (PW, June 22, 2004)
DISCUSSION FORUM
|
