The president's address to the National Council of Dagestan has attracted interest among the public at large and local authorities, as this political document dramatically differs from everything else ever heard here. This year address is multidimensional and appeals to the entire Dagestani society, not separate parts of it.
The president of the republic, Magomedsalam Magomedov, doesn't try to suppress but rather reveals the core problems existing in Dagestan. He warned that the republic is on the edge, saying the once multicultural and tolerant Dagestan has been split into two separate parts. The question at issue is that very many young people have surrendered to radicalism. The essential part of the president's message has become modernization and reconciliation. Magomedov called on the public to establish rules and values tolerable to all representatives of the Dagestani society.
The ex-president of Dagestan, Muhu Aliev, reported to the Kremlin while in office on number so dead militants. But it is still unclear whether those people could be called militants, as there was no investigation or trial, they were just killed. Magomedov expresses an absolutely different point of view: "The number of killed militants can't be used to judge success. What really matters is bringing these people back into the legal sphere and a peaceful life."
Magomedov was objective in his evaluation of the situation. The local authorities have failed to solve the most serious problems, and a slight economic growth did not provide for better living standards.
"Dagestan did not turn into region safe for living and favorable for business. Society is tired of waiting for changes," the Dagestani leader said, adding that terrorist activity has intensified.
The address called on local authorities to fight the sources that finance terrorism, but the truth is that sometimes bureaucrats are just indifferent to the problem or even act in the interest of the other side.
Another priority issue of the address has become modernization - "not only technical renovation, but a truly different quality of living.”
Magomedov believes the starting point of this process should become the republic's participation in the drawing up and implementation of the Social and Economic development strategy of the North Caucasus Federal District. The Dagestani president also touched upon the reform in social sphere. In his view, the best way to remove extremism is to increase living standards and invest in such spheres as education, health care and culture. Currently most people in the republic chose a religious lifestyle and religious education, but this sphere is most vulnerable to the influence of extremist ideas. This happens because there is no serious and good civil system of education in the republic and the younger generation doesn't have any option but to join extremist underground. Primary and higher education is very expensive in Dagestan, while religious schools are free. This situation feeds the terrorist underground and forms its social basis, but the resolution of this issue is in the hands of the authorities.
Musa Musaev, Makhachakala. Exclusively for VK.
