North Caucasus in media this week (8th -15th of August)

Leader of ‘Caucasus Emirate’ neutralized

A legal regime of a Counter-Terrorism Operation (CTO) was introduced in the Untsukul region of Dagestan on August 10. The Gimry Tunnel was closed to traffic, a transport artery in the mountainous part of the Republic. On the first day of the CTO four militants were eliminated in the mountains, a few managed to escape. According to the law enforcement agencies, the leader of the ‘Caucasus Emirate’, Magomed Suleymanov, and the ringleader of the terrorist organization ‘Vilayat Dagestan’, Kamil Saidov, were eliminated

RIA Dagestan, 08/11/15: "Suleymanov was wanted for organizing the terrorist attack in August 2012 in the village of Chirkey in the Buynaksk district on the religious figure Said Afandi ‘Chirkey’, as well as for committing a number of attempts on the lives of law enforcement officers and a number of other serious and very serious crimes. This was stated by the Senior Assistant of the Head of the Investigative Department of the Republic of Dagestan, Rasul Temirbekov.

Versiya, 12/08/15: "The activities of the terrorist group ‘Caucasus Emirate', of the so-called North Caucasus province of ISIS  has been officially banned on the territory of the Russian Federation since 2010. By the decision of the Supreme Court, the organization has also been included on the sanctions list of the UN, declared a terrorist organization and banned by courts in the United States, Britain, Canada and the United Arab Emirates. A year ago, the Russian security forces eliminated the founder of the terrorist group, Doku Umarov, the leader of the Islamist separatist terrorist movement in Chechnya and the last president of the unrecognized Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. Umarov, was on the list of the most dangerous international terrorists wanted for terrorist acts, murder and kidnapping. Among the offenses in which Umarov was directly involved was a terrorist attack in Domodedovo (2011), the bombing of the Nevsky Express (2009) and attacks in the Moscow metro (2010). 

Avtoterrorizm on Kavkaz highway

On the night of August 10 in Gudermes a car accident occurred, killing seven people, including a woman and two girls. The driver of a Lada Priora car collided with two cars in the opposite lane.

TV and Radio Company Grozny, 08/10/15: ‘’A meeting with representatives of the media from around the region was held in Grozny. During the meeting, witnesses of accidents and violations were asked to film what is happening on mobile phones and send it to a traffic police post in the Chechen Republic. "Today's tool that everyone uses is the Internet, and discussion of the issue should be given a public nature. There can be forums, as was done in its time by the Blue Bucket movement. There was a local project on Instagram in the Chechen Republic, where people uploaded violations of people driving through a red light, or parking incorrectly. There was no task to bring the facts to the traffic police. But from the point of view of the legality of the traffic police this project will be interesting, they can use the information in their own interests," Timur Aliyev, one of the participants of the meeting, said.

Russian planet, 8/10/15: "The head of Chechnya proposed introducing tough measures to deal with traffic violators: offenders must pay a fine in one hour, otherwise their car will be put into penalty-parking. After that, the offender will have a day to provide receipts, otherwise the car will be offered for sale.

Such measures have been proposed by Ramzan Kadyrov at a meeting with members of the government, members of parliament of the Chechen Republic, heads of districts and towns, officers of the Interior Ministry and the clergy."

Said Amirov to be imprisoned till the end of his life

In the North Caucasus military district a court is continuing to hear the trial of the former mayor of Makhachkala, Said Amirov. The prosecution has demanded life imprisonment for him.

Rossiyskaya Gazeta - South of Russia, 08/10/15: "The defendants are Said Amirov, his nephew Yusuf Dzhaparov, Murad Aliyev, three Ahmedov brothers, Magomed Kadiev and Zubair Mutaev. They are accused of the murder of the acting head of the investigative department of the IC for the Soviet district of Makhachkala, Arsen Gadzhibekov, and the organization and execution of a terrorist attack in the shopping and entertainment complex in Kaspiysk.

Said Amirov told the court of his innocence, saying that all the evidence against him and the other defendants was given under torture.

Earlier, the court sentenced Amirov and Dzhaparov to 10 and 8.5 years in prison, respectively, for plotting the assassination of the head of the department of the Pension Fund of Dagestan and the famous Russian wrestler, Olympic champion, Sagid Murtazaliev. "

Versiya, 08/10/15: "According to the prosecutor, there is no doubt of Amirov  and his accomplices’ guilt.

This is not the first case to have been instituted against the former mayor of Makhachkala. Earlier, Amirov was accused of organizing the contract killing of Lieutenant-Colonel Arsen Hajibeyov, who served as the head of the investigative department of the Soviet district of Makhachkala. The investigation believes that the lieutenant-colonel was killed after raiding the administration building where he worked as an official without prior approval from Amirov.’’

Resignation of the head of Derbent

The head of the district City of Derbent, Imam Yaraliev, resigned on August 11th. According to the press service of the city administration, Yaraliev is to work in one of the federal agencies. On September 19th Derbent is to mark its 2000th anniversary. It was allocated half a billion rubles for preparations, including one billion from the federal budget.

Yuga.ru, 8/11/15: "On January 12, Imam Yaraliev was elected mayor by the new scheme of voting of the City Council deputies. To do this, he had to formally resign from the post of mayor of Derbent, which he received as a result of the victory in 2010 in direct elections for the head of the city. Note that the local residents were dissatisfied with the head of the city and were outraged by the lack of opportunity to vote and choose publicly the authorities they would like to see.

In February this year a case was prosecuted against Yaraliev for abuse of office in connection with the manipulation of land in the city, but this decision was later denied by the Derbent City Court."

New Case, 08/12/15: "In the near future the acting head of the city district of  Derbent will become the State Duma deputy Gadzhimet Safaraliev.

‘’’The head of the Republic  Ramadan Abdullatipov, invited me to lead the city, and I agreed. So far, no procedure has been carried out. I think that in the coming days it will be officially announced," the MP said in conversation with the correspondent of the weekly.

New old mayor in Grozny

The deputies of the city assembly have elected Muslim Khuchiev as mayor of Grozny. Ramzan Kadyrov noted that this is the right choice. Khuchiev led the city from 2007 to 2012. In July this year he was appointed as acting mayor.

Russian Planet, 8/12/15: "As Kadyrov wrote on Instagram, ‘’Khuchiev has great management experience related to solving large, complex problems."

"This is a responsible, honest and deeply religious man,’’ Kadyrov stressed. "I am confident that the members of the city assembly made entirely the right choice by voting for Muslim Khuchiev.  I am very grateful to them for this, under the leadership of the new mayor Grozny will become even more beautiful and attractive. "

Sevastopol Governor visited Chechnya

Sevastopol Governor Sergei Menyailo paid a two-day visit to Chechnya. During a meeting with Ramzan Kadyrov they discussed, among others, the question of the participation of Chechen businessmen in the development of Crimean resorts.

Arguments of the Week-Crimea, 11.08.15: "Ramzan Kadyrov has published a message on Instagram that the governor of Sevastopol came to him to stay.

"I welcomed the honored guest,’’ the head of Chechnya wrote. ‘’We had a cup of tea and discussed a number of projects."

The host side indicated that the issues discussed concerned various sectors of the economy, and the social and humanitarian spheres.

Then Kadyrov said: ‘’We can do a lot in matters of the military-patriotic education of youth."

Yuga.ru, 8/11/15: "The governor of Sevastopol Sergey Menyailo presented the head of the republic, Ramzan Kadyrov with a medal ‘Russia-Crimea-Sevastopol’ during his visit to Chechnya. "The return of Sevastopol and Crimea to their native Russia has become one of the most important events in the history of our Motherland! It was the will of the inhabitants of the peninsula, supported by all Russians. I am very pleased that the Chechen people have a direct connection to this,’’ Ramzan Kadyrov  commented on the event on social networks.

Kazakh security officials learn from  Chechen colleagues

A commander of an elite unit of the Special Operations Center of Kazakhstan, Bulat Zhurabaev, has visited Chechnya. His Chechen colleagues introduced him to the work of creating an international center for training security forces in the country.

Grozny TV and Radio Company, 8/10/15: "The assistant head of the Republic for the security block, Daniil Martynov, told and showed the guests from Kazakhstan about the possible future international center for the training of security forces. The Chechen Republic is the only region where terrorism has been eliminated completely. Therefore, the desire of the representatives of many countries to learn from the struggle against extremism from Chechen security forces is understandable.

The commander of an elite unit of Special Operations Center of Kazakhstan Bulat Zhurabaev was struck by the professionalism of the Chechen commandos. In methods of fighting in certain circumstances and surrounding criminals, the guests were able to learn a lot from their Chechen colleagues."

Attack on Stavropol harvest

In Stavropol Territory there has been an invasion of Asiatic locusts. They have caused serious damage to crops covering an area of ​​over 27 thousand hectares, and completely destroyed the crops on an area of ​​almost one and a half thousand hectares. The total area of ​​the locust swarm covered more than 92 thousand hectares. Pest control is being carried out from the air and from the ground, about 50 thousand hectares have been sprinkled already.

Business newspaper, 8/11/15: "The authorities of Stavropol Territory have considered an increase in funding for the fight against migratory locusts.

The pestilence flew from neighboring regions to Stavropol Territory. Swarms of locusts completely destroyed the harvest of at least one field per day. According to the regional Ministry of Agriculture, locust swarms were reported in more than 20 districts of Stavropol Territory. "

Stavgorod, 11/08/15: "At the moment on the territory of the region there is a significant reduction of the pest and a decrease in its activity. This is a result of the effective work which has already been done. Due to the processing of the crop fields we were able to protect them from infestation. Significant damage to crops was caused by migratory locusts."

These football fans are not needed

The head of Dagestan, Ramazan Abdullatipov, asked the RFU President Vitaly Mutko to respond to the nationalist slogans of fans during the CSKA-Anzhi match. The head of the republic did not rule out that the behavior of the CSKA fans was a well-planned action.

Komsomolskaya Pravda in Stavropol, 12/08/15: "The encouragement of ethnic or racial hatred, incitement to murder people on the basis of their ethnicity should not leave the authorities, the RFU or the public indifferent, Ramadan Abdullatipov said. It is outrageous that this is happening against the backdrop of a patriotic rally around the fatherland after the Olympics in Sochi and the return of Crimea to Russia,’’ the head of Dagestan said.

In early August, Anzhi FC applied to the Russian football authorities to investigate extremist actions of CSKA fans. The Russian Football Union has decided to punish the fans by closing CSKA fan bleachers at the next match with Rostov FC. Also, the army club has to pay a fine of 510 thousand rubles."

Versiya in the Caucasus, 11/08/15, "In the 4th round match of the Russian Football Championship, which took place on August 1 at the Arena in the suburb of Khimki, fans of the Moscow and Makhachkala teams arrived. As noted in the letter of the head of Dagestan, "the main action took place not on the pitch, but in the stands." Fans of the Moscow team throughout the match chanted slogans, including obscenities, expressing hatred for the Anzhi fans and the Caucasus as a whole. Ramadan Abdullatipov reminded the Minister of Sports of the content of Article 29 of the Constitution prohibiting propagation of national hatred."

Foreign tourists return to North Caucasus 

The number of tourists visiting Ingushetia has increased by 35% in comparison to the previous year. In addition to Russians, the republic was visited by guests from China, Korea and Turkey, as well as the Netherlands.

Kommersant FM, 08/12/15: "The head of Ingushetia, Yunus-bek Yevkurov: "For example, there are a huge number of architectural monuments in the area of ​​Dzhejrahsky. The most ancient Christian church is located in Ingushetia. Originally it was heathen, then it was altered into a Christian church. It is located in Ingushetia, in a Muslim republic. There are environmentally friendly products, and hospitable people. You have an opportunity not to return from a disco or a night club at 3am, but to come back to your hotel room at 9-10pm. If it's a family type of tourism, you can go to bed, have a rest, and then visit sights in the morning again. That's Ingushetia.

Islam-today, 05.08.15: ‘‘Ingushetia demonstrates the highest growth rate of tourist flow. In 2011 the number of tourists quadrupled.

Experts underline good weather and economic factors among the reasons why the domestic tour of destinations in 2015 is in good demand among Russians.’’ 

The official site of the administration of Nazran, 08/07/15: "Tourists from the Netherlands are in Nazran now. Young people – David and Roscoe – came to Nazran with their friend, a native of Ingushetia, Mikhail Gireev. The boys say that Mikhail told them about Ingushetia and they couldn't stop themselves from travelling here.

The Dutch visited the Memorial of Glory and Memory in the Nasir-Kortsky District. 'You have very interesting history, you have a lot of heroes of war, we can see that your people have passed through many difficulties,' the young people shared their impressions."

Imams work on themselves 

Training courses for imams have started in Chechnya, where they are taught to resist the propaganda of Islamic State of Iraq and Levant." Imams learn the Arabic language, the correct reading of the Koran, Islamic law and creed. More than three hundred imams will complete the courses.

Refresher and retraining courses of religious leaders began working in Dagestan almost simultaneously with Chechnya. Their organizer was the Dagestan Institute of Humanities on the initiative of the Republic's muftiat.

Islamdag, 10.08.15: ‘‘Training takes place in the following disciplines: fiqh (Islamic law), Aqeedah (creed), lugat (Arabic – theory and practice), and reading the Koran according to the rules of the Tajwid. The lessons also include clarification of current topical issues, in which the followers of extremist movements are wrong, knocking the younger generation astray.

The magistral staff consists of the Mufti of the Chechen Republic, Salah Haji Mezhiev, advisors to the Mufti of the Chechen Republic Akhmad Khusanov and Malik Dabul, the deputy mufti of the Chechen Republic Walid Osman Kuru and Sadykov, assistant mufti of the Chechen Republic Gilani Gubashev and Bilal Yahya. The courses last 3 years."

Islamdag, 12.08.15: ‘‘The first deputy mufti of Dagestan, Ahmad Haji Kahan, noted to participants of the courses that it is very important that every region of the republic has competent and qualified religious scholars explaining the prescription of God and His prohibitions. The presence of such specialists will allow society not only to consolidate and achieve stability, but also to eradicate such negative phenomena as extremism and terrorism. The fight against this evil is possible only through education."

Islam-today, 07.08.15: ‘‘It is noteworthy that courses on fighting the propaganda of Islamic State are free, but they are compulsory for all religious leaders. Every day of the week is fixed for each region. According to the Chechen imams themselves, these courses should have been started a long time ago."

Tragic trail of past war 

A paratrooper was killed on August 10th in the Achkhoi-Martan district of Chechnya. Two contractors of the air assault brigade of the Defense Ministry were wounded. While on reconnaissance in the highlands the soldiers stumbled on a mine left over after military actions. 

TV and Radio Company Grozny, 08/09/15, "Fighters of the air assault brigade of the Ministry of Defence were carrying out explorations near the village of Yandi in forested mountainous territory. During the event, an explosion of an IED occurred on the basis of an 82-millimeter mine."

Ingushetia ready for Hajj

The government of Ingushetia has held a workshop under the leadership of Prime Minister Abubakar Mal'sagov on the preparations for sending pilgrims to the Hajj. According to the information of the Committee, the Hajj quota for 1400 people, submitted by the Republic, has almost completely been introduced. Now the Federal Migration Service of Russia in the Republic of Ingushetia deals with preparations and issuance of passports for pilgrims. Gathering and departure of pilgrims will be carried out by means of Magas Airport from the 7th to the 14th of September this year.

Regnum, 12.08.15: The press service of the Spiritual Center of Muslims of Ingushetia has organized seminars and training rules for the Hajj. Every week during August in the cultural houses of Nazran, Malgobek and Ordzhonikidzevskaya, those who have expressed a desire to travel to the holy places for Muslims can visit classes in order to prepare for the implementation of the fifth pillar of Islam, and experts will answer questions from believers."

Mekhi-Khel, 08/12/15: "In 2014, Hajj was performed by 1600 residents of Ingushetia: an additional 250 places of the quota were given to the Republic of Tatarstan.

Hajj is a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, to the sacred places of Islam in Mecca and Medina. It is one of the five pillars of Islam, the mandatory devotional duty of the Holy Koran."

Banner of Internet Prize Prometheus over Europe

Caucasian climbers set the banner of the All-Russian Internet Award Prometheus on the highest peak in Europe – Mount Elbrus. The Internet award is given with the support of the Office of the Plenipotentiary Representative of Russian President in the North Caucasian Federal District, the organizers of the project are the Center for Digital Development Prometheus, the school of interactive communications IKRA and the Media Association of the North Caucasus.

The official website of Pyatigorsk, 13/08/15: "Partners of the Award this year were TASS, REGNUM, Russian Public Television, Radio Russia, Argumenty Nedeli, CSCP Kavkaz, JohnDigiton, ADIndex, the Fund and the implementation of social charitable projects GALABU and many others.

The winners will be selected in 17 nominations: Science and Education, Culture and Art, Power and the State, Activism, Entertainment, Recreation and Tourism, Sport and Healthy Lifestyle, Media, Transport and Traffic, Industry and Manufacturing, Telecommunications, Health, Technology and Innovations, Real Estate and Construction, Finance and Insurance. In addition, a number of special nominations will be established."

Stavropol Plus 13/08/15: The award was given to the newspaper MK-Kavkaz and the Portal of the North Caucasus in Stavropol Territory in 2014. "The awarding of winners will be held in Pyatigorsk in the context of the III Media Forum of the North Caucasus Federal District, which will be attended by top officials of the country and more than 300 journalists and media executives from different regions of Russia."

Athletes in Ingushetia become more comfortable 

The first hotel complex in the country for athletes with suites is to be built in Nazran. The five-storey building will have more than fifty rooms. The complex is to be built near the Palace of Sports and the ice arena. 

Stroitelstvo.ru 8/11/15: "Work on the construction site of a 5-storey hotel with 50 rooms will cost 180 million rubles. Luxury apartments will be built for VIP guests. Construction covering a total area of ​​4700 square meters will be carried out only by through private investment. There will be a restaurant, a cafe, a bath and laundry service, salons, massage parlors, gyms and parking places for 45 cars in the building."

CRE.RU, 11.08.15: ‘‘Completion is scheduled for the end of 2016. The hotel complex is for accommodation of athletes, coaches and judges, who are to come to the republic in order to participate in national and international competitions."