VK continues a series of publications, presenting the responses of North Caucasian media to nationalistic riots in Moscow. Today we are going to inform our readers of Ingushetia’s reaction to the events. Ingush media and experts are sure that the recent violent outbreak is the result of the complete failure of Russian ethnic policy and there is a strong chance that similar atrocities are possible in the future, unless the Federal government works out an efficient strategy for the prevention of ethnic conflicts. ‘Criminals have no ethnicity and no faith’ - reads the current slogan of all Ingush parties and movements. The Ingush leader, Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, called the riots outrageous, but at the same time the government urges Ingush youth to be more attentive to the customs and behaviour patterns of non-Ingush people.
Nazran officials point out that such ethnic conflicts may lead the whole state to collapse, unless they are properly and attentively treated. Ethnic conflicts are extremely hard to settle and to forget: for example, the echoes of the Ossetian-Ingush conflict still remain, although it occurred 18 years ago. There are no quick ways to resolve all the differences; long-term programmes and promoting tolerance, are required. In fact, however, no serious measures have been undertaken, even after such violent outbreaks as in Kandopoga.
If Russia pretends to be a stable and hospitable country, ready to host the Olympics and the World Cup, it has to work out its ethnic problems through diplomatic and legal means. There is no point in blaming only Caucasian people of improper behavior, as every people has its hooligans. And perhaps the ‘Caucasians’ are just a ‘lightning rod’ to divert the public’s attention from real problems.
Pavel Tsoev, exclusively to VK
