Maya Astvatsaturova: much has been done to stabilize the North Caucasus

he North Caucasus has always been a difficult region, causing the Russian authorities some concern, but it should not be demonized, because the same Russians live there as in other regions of Russia,Professor of Pyatigorsk State Linguistic University, member of the commission on migration issues of the Russian Presidential Council on International Relations Maya Astvatsaturova said in an interview with VK.

"We are no different in this sense, although we have our emotional and social temperament and our problems. Today I would like to state authoritatively that, during the existence of the North Caucasus Federal District, a lot has been done to stabilize the North Caucasus. Today the population of the region is aimed solely at social and economic dynamics. And the population has absolutely no thought of separation from Russia. Moreover, the completed Olympics strongly stimulated patriotic feelings in the North Caucasus," the expert says, while calling not to idealize the situation.

"We need a lot of work, especially with young people. Because we, the experts, university professors, often show elementary ethnological ignorance, myths, complaints and mutual reproaches. And here, of course, there is a large field for activity. I also want to say that all the resources of productive interaction between the leaders of the North Caucasus region of the Russian Federation probably have not been exhausted, because the population is very sensitive to the different mutual claims and to mutual incorrect statements," underlines the professor.

It is desirable that the leaders of the North Caucasus regions always demonstrate Russia's civic position," says Maya Astvatsaturova, explaining that the ethno-cultural and ethno-political diversity that exists in the North Caucasus requires to ensure that the strategy of the state national policy really becomes clear, in order to be perceived not in declarative terms, but as a direct guide to action.

"In this sense, the need to promote the principles of this strategy, it is necessary to introduce it to ethno-cultural organizations, civil society and the media, to provide information support. Though adopted in very complex conflicting discussions, this strategy is good as a compromise. This is a consensus document. I think that the idea of mutual accommodation, mutual consent, should be accented in the North Caucasus today," the member of the commission on migration issues of the Council under the Russian President on International Relations opines.

Today's report, which is prepared by the Moscow Bureau for Human Rights, is very important as it contains very serious factual material of monitoring,
the analyst believes.

"Today we constantly say that despite the huge number of experts, we do not always observe the situation changing. And the situation of ethnic and
religious relations is very emotional, very flexible, and changing very rapidly. And so we need to constantly monitor the situation. In this
sense, this report fills very serious gaps, paying attention to some new phenomena," the professor says. Today we talked about the new nationalism -
youth xenophobia and the inclusion of ethnicity and religious factors in political relations. And this is particularly evident in the North Caucasus," assures Maya Astvatsaturova.

As an expert on the North Caucasus, the professor expressed satisfaction that the report pays much attention to the issue of the North Caucasus.

"Unfortunately, the evidence of mutual xenophobia really exists. Unfortunately, this exists in the North Caucasus, too. In this sense the practical importance of this document is even higher. It is also very important that in addition the monitoring trend, the report includes practical recommendations addressed both to the power structures and to civil society institutions. It is no secret that many public organizations, in particular those of national-cultural autonomy, are mostly focused on their own ethnic cultures. And today they should set broader and more long-term political goals, first of all, strengthening our unified civic platform, our civic unity. And only through this can we preserve the diversity of multiethnic Russia," summarizes Maya Asvatsaturova.