THE FIRST INDEPENDENT MAGAZINE ABOUT EVENTS IN THE CAUCASUS Editorial office in Moscow RF, 103982, Moscow, DIGEST #17 2015 per. Luchnikov 4, entr. 3, room 1. Tel. (495) 621-04-24 30 Tel./fax (495) 625-06-63 E-mail: [email protected] Editor in chief 2 "HE GOT WHAT HE DESERVED" Israpil SHOVKHALOV E-mail: [email protected] Executive Editor Abdulla DUDUEV 4 E-mail: [email protected] A TERRITORY OF LIMITED Department Offices LEGAL FORCE AND EFFECT HISTORY/HUMAN RIGHTS/SOCIETY/CULTURE Maria KATYSHEVA, Zoya SVETOVA, Lidiya MIKHALCHENKO, Inna BUTORINA, Yelena SANNIKOVA 8 OCTOBER 13th Correspondents Taus SERGANOVA (Chechnya) Marem YALKHAROEVA (Ingushetia) Mussa MEISIGOV (Ingushetia) Aida GADZHIEVA (Dagestan) 12 THE PARTICULARITIES Ali MAGOMEDOV (Dagestan) Nadezhda BOTASHEVA Over the past decade, the demo- (Karachayevo-Cherkessia) OF AN ETHNIC SENTENCE Assistant Editor graphic problem has become a Georgiy ZINGER Literary editor of Russian texts 16 Irina VASUTCHENKO HE HOPED FOR AN EARLY RELEASE NEVER major topic of discussion through- English translation by SUSPECTING IT WOULD COME IN DEATH Boris SMIRNOV out the nation. Top government Design and layout Dmitry YAKOVLEV officials and famous politicians This publication has been published since 24 WHY ARE CAUCASIANS TRAVELING 2003 and is registered with the Federal Service for Supervision in the Sphere of Telecom, Information TO JOIN THE SYRIAN CIVIL WAR? include this problem in their politi- Technologies and Mass Communications (Roskomnadzor). The certificate of re-registration is: PI No. FS77-46140, cal platforms, discussing it on dated August 11, 2011. Founders and publishers: 28 IN ILES TATIEV, INGUSHETIA GETS ITS Members of the Russian human numerous talk shows. The popula- rights research center: FIRST POLITICAL PRISONER Civil Society and Freedom of Speech Initiative Center for the Caucasus; tion of the Russian Federation is The non-profit organization Right to Life and Civil Dignity The opinions expressed by authors 30 A HIGH BIRTHRATE, aging. Government measures for in articles and interviews are not necessarily those of the editorial board A HIGH MORTALITY RATE or of the publisher. increasing the birthrate are not All rights to articles published in this issue belong to the editorial board. Reprint without permission of the editorial board is forbidden. having a significant effect — in When using or quoting articles, 34 reference to "DOSH" is obligatory. AS LONG AS PEOPLE TURN TO US FOR The magazine is distributed HELP, WE WILL CONTINUE WORKING many regions of the country, popu- in Russia, Georgia Azerbaijan, Armenia, Lithuania, IN CHECHNYA Norway, Germany lation growth remains very low. Austria, the Czech Republic, France, Belgium, Great Britain Circulation of the Russian edition - 10.000; English edition - 1.000. "This magazine is published with support from the Human Rights House Foundation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway, and the National Endowment for Democracy" WITHOUT TRACE OR INVESTIGATION WITHOUT TRACE OR INVESTIGATION Not a single concrete fact, date or name crossed the investigator's lips. Yet, of course, Mr. Khashagulgov's detainment was extended from hearing the bombing nonsense was eventually to hearing. And no one was in the slightest bit interested in such insignifi- LAYLA IBRAGIMOVA dropped from the case, but Isa was by cant details as the utter absence of any grounds for detaining then already in the clutches of the Mr. Khashagulgov under guard. The only problem was that "HE GOT WHAT Center for Countering Extremism. Mrs. Khashagulgov invited some reporters to one of the hearings. He is still there, in a Vladikavkaz remand prison. There has been no trial other words, but it's too easy to just Not a single concrete fact, date or HE DESERVED" and his detention has been extended put her in prison — let the woman name crossed the investigator's lips. for another six months. find peace and tranquility on her own. Yet, of course, Mr. Khashagulgov's detainment was extended from hear- Such is the value placed on working The same day that Mrs. Khashagulgov's ing to hearing. And no one was in the A murdered member of the opposition with Yevkurov's team. house was being searched — and, by slightest bit interested in such insignif- the way, it is still unclear what the sub- icant details as the utter absence of any has been declared a militant Meanwhile, Isa Khashagulgov's wife, ject of the search was, as the report has grounds for detaining Mr. Pyatimat, publicized information never been released — security person- Khashagulgov under guard. The only showing that the debts had been nel also arrested another one of Mr. problem was that Mrs. Khashagulgov incurred for the head of the republic, Khashagulgov's brothers, the business- invited some reporters to one of the Habitually scanning the headlines in trator of many of the tragedies that along with all the relevant figures, man Yakub. The charges had it all — hearings. the Caucasian newsfeed, I stopped on have taken place in the republic. "I won't be imprisoned; I will be killed." dates and names. She also decided to weapons, connections... According to the following: February 13, 2013 — However, let us look several years into publish an interview of hers on the relatives, he was beaten and injected And then, Mr. Fityukov's gibberish "FSB confirms liquidation of militant the past, to 2008. Internet. Three days later she called us: with something. became public knowledge. in Nazran." And all of a sudden it turns out he was "Take the video down! I am receiving That very evening, I discovered that The populace was simmering with dis- a terrorist! Right under Yevkurov's threats and fear for my children's lives." Along the way, his car was impounded. The press was not allowed to attend this "militant" was none other than content. Ingushetia had been plunged nose, as it were. How is it, Mr. However, if you think that this is the Later, it was used to surveil Sultan- the subsequent session and Mr. Sultan-Girey Khashagulgov! The same into the economic abyss during the Yevkurov, that you didn't notice this extent of what awaits an individual Girey Khashagulgov — all the way Khashagulgov was whisked from the tall and gaunt Mr. Khashagulgov who term of the outgoing president, Murat earlier? who has worked effectively for the until his murder. Moscow public's eye to Vladikavkaz. was an Ingush construction entrepre- Zyazikov. Working as an activist, Mr. government of Ingushetia, you would neur and former deputy minister of Khashagulgov tried to represent the Back then though, the construction be sadly mistaken. Isa Khashagulgov's car suffered the In an interview, Mr. Yevkurov claims the republic's Ministry of Construction interests of both business and everyday minister's career had a worse ending same fate two-and-a-half years earlier. that Sultan-Girey Khashagulgov "got and who, after leaving his post, citizens, rallying people to take to the than that of his deputy. Mr. Having been left to fend for herself During his arrest, his car was confiscat- what he deserved." However, he is not became a high-profile member of the streets. Khashagulgov was asked to retire, and her children without any financial ed supposedly for "further investiga- currently — nor ever has been — opposition. I remember taking tea while the minister he was deputizing or physical support, Pyatimat is to this tion." Afterward, unknown but clearly under investigation, nor have any with his family in his beautiful, wel- In 2009, not long after Mr. Yevkurov for was shot — in his own office — by day considering whether she should security-affiliated people would be charges ever been filed against him. coming house during yet another one was appointed head of the republic, terrorists. (Who else?) Of course, later allow them to go to school or not. seen driving it all around Ingushetia, Mr. Yevkurov knows this, which begs of my visits to the region. Mr. Khashagulgov was invited to work on, ominous rumors began circulating Their house is under constant surveil- utterly out in the open and without the questions of how he would know with the republican government. that the Ministry, or rather its adminis- lance; detectives in black cars shadow even having changed the license whether Mr. Khashagulgov "got what The Caucasus is the kind of place where He agreed and was appointed Deputy tration, had borrowed millions from her children. Furthermore, the house plates. he deserved" or not? one must always be prepared to discov- Minister of Construction. some wealthy individuals. And these was subject to "an extreme ransack- er that any somewhat famous person — were not millions of roubles. Nor were ing." It is impossible to extract any com- Mr. Khashagulgov himself did a fine or really any person at all — may be tor- During his supervision of construction they borrowed for the administration: ment on Isa Khashagulgov's case from job of partially explaining the situation tured, shot, abducted, killed and then projects, contractors would trust him but for Mr. Yevkurov himself. Arkady Avdeyev — special investigator the investigators. During the first days when, the day before his death, he told posthumously declared to be whatever even when they were owed back pay. for the Department of Internal Affairs following Mr. Khashagulgov's detain- French radio that "I won't be impris- the authorities wish him to be. An energetic and effective manager, This affair turned out to be a terrible and a lieutenant colonel of justice ment, when he was being taken to oned; I will be killed." Mr. Khashagulgov knew how to over- tragedy for Mr. Khashagulgov's large under the Main Investigations court in Moscow in order to extend his He knew this and made no attempt to When it comes to Mr.