Nationalistic statements by Duma deputy speaker Vladimir Zhirinovsky during the TV broadcast of "Duel" have triggered a wave of indignation among the Dagestani elite
Representative of the Fair Russia party and head of the national group of Dagestan in Moscow, Omar Begov: 45,000 Dagestanis live in Moscow. If one of them is a criminal, it is impossible to judge the rest based on him, one cannot promote anti-Caucasian hysteria. I took my hat off to no one, neither to Yeltsin, nor to foreign leaders, nor to the current leaders. I will take my hat off to the youths who went into the forests, if they return to their families and to civilian life... Zhirinovsky has never had his own thoughts and never will have. He voices what's happening in the Kremlin. First deputy chairman of the Just Cause party, Mustafa Kurbanmagomedov: there is no need to pay much attention to the statements made by politicians. Zhirinovsky is making populist statements. He is examining the mood of society, in order to determine which statements will be welcomed by a certain group of voters. Businessman, producer of "lak" shoes, Ahmed Karimov: When I lived in
Grozny, before the first Chechen war, at the time of Jokhar Dudayev, Zhirinovsky was making derogatory statements concerning Caucasians. He claimed that Caucasians "hide behind women's skirts."
He promised to appropriate Caucasians in case of his election. And at the time of the celebration of the anniversary of the "Chechen revolution", Zhirinovsky was the first congratulate Jokhar Dudayev. Such a person should not be treated seriously. He is a court fool.
Head of the public organization 'Tolerance', one of the leaders of the Kumyk and Dagestani groups, a member of the Public Council of the plenipotentiary presidential envoy to the North Caucasus Federal District, Absalitdin Murzaev: it is wrong to judge people in such an imposing way. This does not reflect on Zhirinovsky positively, neither as a politician nor as a man. Most Dagestanis work from morning to night, despite the cold, harsh conditions and lack of land. They are involved in transit on KAMAZs, growing vegetables and fruit and breeding cattle. I am proud of these people.
I was top of the list of candidates for the People's Assembly of Dagestan from the LDPR. After the nationalistic statements made by Zhirinovsky, I wanted to withdraw my candidacy in protest. However, in the absence of other parties through which community organizations could put their candidates, my supporters persuaded me not to do so... At the proposal of Alexander Khloponin, I was included in the Public Council of the presidential plenipotentiary envoy to the North Caucasus Federal District... At one of our next regular meetings we will appoint the staff of the commission on interethnic and interfaith relations.
Musa Musaev, Makhachkala. Exclusively for VK
