Dagestani leader talks on fighting extremism and social-economic projects

Dagestani leader Magomedsalam Magomedov talked about fighting
extremism and social-economic projects in an interview with
Kommersant.

Magomedov said that their work in February last year started in
conditions of a criminal outbreak: numerous terrorist attacks, chaotic
and uncoordinated operation of the law enforcers. Little attention was
paid to preventing extremism. The work became more systematic and
goal-oriented in August-September. Magomedov believes that they need
to use peaceful measures as well and talk with deceived people.
Although there are people with whom it is impossible to talk, he
noted.

The Dagestani leader proposed pardoning repenting militants, such as
it is in Chechnya. A people's council in Dagestan made the proposal to
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in December last year.
Magomedov said that more enlightenment and preaching is needed in the Internet.

Commenting on the formation of the special battalion, consisting of
Dagestanis and possibly former militants, Magomedsalam Magomedov said
that they may engage in any affairs and the authorities will only
support their initiatives. If any of them wants to work for the
military or the police, it will not be forbidden.

The Dagestani leader said that the authorities aim at knocking out the
"ideological basis of the militants".

He also talked on construction of a new glass factory, tourism
business in the republic and the Caucasus in general, development of
infrastructure for storage and transport of agricultural products.
They had negotiations with manufacturers of energy equipment for
agriculture. Agriculture and energy are a priority included in the
development strategy until 2025. A deal on investments worth EURO 100
million has already been reached.

Magomedov concluded by returning to the extremism issue and touched
upon the terrorist attack in Moscow. He said that it is wrong to
search for the national fingerprints in the case - Dagestani, Ingush,
Chechen, Stavropol, Buryat and etc. Terrorism is a global threat.
Citizens of the North Caucasus, especially Dagestan, suffer most from
the terrorists, he said.