Dagestan-2011: round-up

In 2011, the social situation in Dagestan remained tense, but a certain progress has taken place since Magomedsalam Magomedov became head of the republic. Two years ago, there was a spike in terrorist activity in Dagestan, and now it is gradually dissipating. Some experts say that this is due to the resolution of the Dagestani Peoples Congress that condemned the constant violence that continues to claim the lives of Dagestani people.

The representatives of salafits and all those who don’t agree with the official position of Dagestani muflis received an opportunity to express their point of view in a peaceful dialog for the first time since 1998 during the session of the Russian Presidential Council for Civic Society and Human Rights Development that took place in Dagestan last June. However, the representatives of the official Islam demonstratively ignored the even, so Federal officials didn’t get the chance to learn about the existing religious disagreements first hand. After that the republic was shocked by four political murders – all those who could become fitting spokesmen in this dialog imposed by the central government were killed. Over the past 20 years 16 journalists and 33 prominent religious figures of traditional Islam were killed in Dagestan, and no one has ever voiced the number of salafits and common Muslims who were killed in this period. Hundreds of police officers and governmental officials lost their lives in these 20 years conflict too.

Apart from the religious conflict, there is the ongoing war between militants and law enforcement agencies that last for 15 years now. Thousands of Dagestani people – militants, police officers and civilians – were killed. Both sides are more inclined to kill their opponents that to try to develop a dialog. During anti-terrorist operation police prefers to ‘eliminate’ the militants, very few arrests or trials are being conducted, and that troubles the public and makes people distrust the police. The fact that the militant organizations have plenty of members despite all losses indicate that they have a social base in Dagestan. A special commission under the President of Dagestan now monitors police activities and assure that militants are preferably arrested than killed.

However, it is a mistake to think that all the incidents are parts of the same patters: the conflict between militants and the police is accompanied by various inter-clan, criminal or even political conflicts. Some police officers do not seem to serve the interests of the state, while some militants seem to be simple mercenaries of foreign powers.

According to Mr Magomedov, the problem can’t be resolved by p only, negotiations are vital to the reconciliation process. For example, some 50 militants who didn’t commit homicide returned to their normal lives this year by contacting the Reconciliation Comission. This is a great progress as militant leaders keep recruiting young people (from 16 to 25 years) not only from Dagestan. Of course, not all of these young people share the militant ideology entirely, some of them just fell under the bad influence when they had some live difficulties. Some time ago those who chose to follow militants had no choice but to follow this path till the end, but now young mislead people have another viable option. These 50 young people found the courage to trust the commission and cooperate with the investigation, and now public organization will monitor their progress in their new-found civil lives and ensure their rights are not being violated.

According to the authorities, the full realization of investment projects (that has already started) would deprive the militant organizations of their social base of support, so the government focuses on the issues of the economy now.

By Maria Platoniva. Exclusively to VK