in Sergei Stepashin's view
"Vestnik Kavkaza"
This week, the TV channel Al Arabiya broadcast a video message made by the supporters of the Islamist terrorist group "Islamic State" addressed to the president of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin. In the video, militants threatened Putin with terrorist attacks and a possible outbreak of war in the North Caucasus.
"Vestnik Kavkaza" was able to talk with Sergei Stepashin, one of the most knowledgeable officials on the affairs of the North Caucasus. In the early 1990s, Stepashin occupied the offices of the deputy minister of security, the director of the Federal Counterintelligence Service and the director of the Federal Security Service. He retired after the terrorist attack in Budennovsk. It is believed that Stepashin was skeptical about Pavel Grachev's blitzkrieg against supporters of Dudaev.
In an interview with VK, Stepashin said: "For me, as you know, the Caucasus is very familiar in all respects. We went through the worst phase in the 1990s. The residents of the Caucasus and neighboring regions perfectly understand that what happened in 1990s will never happen there again. I am absolutely sure of it."
Stepashin motivated his position with three arguments: "Firstly, it was a terrifying "vaccination". Several thousand people were killed there. Secondly, we have learned to accurately establish who is to blame, where the money came from and who is fighting us. Thirdly, in this regard we have serious international support from many countries. We have initiated an active dialogue with those countries with which we didn't talk that much about it earlier, in particular with Saudi Arabia and Qatar, with which we have had a complicated relationship. People are starting to realize in those countries as well that everyone could be in danger, no matter how rich and independent you are. Therefore, I am convinced that there will be no repetition of the 1990s events in the North Caucasus."
Stepashin noted that "the most active, terrifying phase in the Chechen Republic is over... Take a trip to Grozny, look at what it has become. I think it is the most beautiful city in the Caucasus and one of the most beautiful cities in Russia. This is the direction that needs to be taken there... However, certainly, there is a risk. I'm not the director of the FSB, but I still know something about the strong support rendered to Islamic State, the militants who are fighting on the territory of the North Caucasus, engaging in acts of terrorism, attempting to carry out ideological brainwashing. I talked with Ramazan Abdulatipov and Ramzan Kadyrov that it is necessary to take various trends in Islam more seriously... It is a real threat and it is valid not only for the North Caucasus, but for other regions as well, including European ones."
Why there will be no more wars in the North Caucasus in Sergei Stepashin's view This week, the TV channel Al Arabiya broadcast a video message made by the supporters of the Islamist terrorist group "Islamic State" addressed to the president of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin. In the video, militants threatened Putin with terrorist attacks and a possible outbreak of war in the North Caucasus."Vestnik Kavkaza" was able to talk with Sergei Stepashin, one of the most knowledgeable officials on the affairs of the North Caucasus. In the early 1990s, Stepashin occupied the offices of the deputy minister of security, the director of the Federal Counterintelligence Service and the director of the Federal Security Service. He retired after the terrorist attack in Budennovsk. It is believed that Stepashin was skeptical about Pavel Grachev's blitzkrieg against supporters of Dudaev.In an interview with VK, Stepashin said: "For me, as you know, the Caucasus is very familiar in all respects. We went through the worst phase in the 1990s. The residents of the Caucasus and neighboring regions perfectly understand that what happened in 1990s will never happen there again. I am absolutely sure of it."Stepashin motivated his position with three arguments: "Firstly, it was a terrifying "vaccination". Several thousand people were killed there. Secondly, we have learned to accurately establish who is to blame, where the money came from and who is fighting us. Thirdly, in this regard we have serious international support from many countries. We have initiated an active dialogue with those countries with which we didn't talk that much about it earlier, in particular with Saudi Arabia and Qatar, with which we have had a complicated relationship. People are starting to realize in those countries as well that everyone could be in danger, no matter how rich and independent you are. Therefore, I am convinced that there will be no repetition of the 1990s events in the North Caucasus."Stepashin noted that "the most active, terrifying phase in the Chechen Republic is over... Take a trip to Grozny, look at what it has become. I think it is the most beautiful city in the Caucasus and one of the most beautiful cities in Russia. This is the direction that needs to be taken there... However, certainly, there is a risk. I'm not the director of the FSB, but I still know something about the strong support rendered to Islamic State, the militants who are fighting on the territory of the North Caucasus, engaging in acts of terrorism, attempting to carry out ideological brainwashing. I talked with Ramazan Abdulatipov and Ramzan Kadyrov that it is necessary to take various trends in Islam more seriously... It is a real threat and it is valid not only for the North Caucasus, but for other regions as well, including European ones."in Sergei Stepashin's view
