Yunus-Bek Yevkurov: luxury relaxes the mind; the body and spirit demand austerity
"Hello, Russia is our common home!" this phrase marked the beginning of my acquaintance with the president of Ingushetia, Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, at the All-Caucasian forum Mashuk-2010. It was this very phrase which became the first message in his internet blog, which he started while at Mount Mashuk. The idea was born at the same time in my head (I am the curator of the project for information development in the North Caucasian Federal District at the Duma Committee on Youth Affairs) and in the head of Kaloy Akhilgov (former press secretary, active blogger and twitter user). After having discussed the importance of information transparency, we decided to offer Yevkurov to join the ranks of the blogosphere. Under dozens of TV cameras, he launched his personal LJ and wrote his first post. And then Yevkurov invited us to Ingushetia.
I had already almost completely forgotten about the invitation, when the first frost came in autumn and I received a phone call with an invitation to visit the president of Ingushetia. For days we were selecting the bloggers who would be interested in the president and interest the president. When the group was formed, flew by plane to Ingushetia. A presidential cortege met us at the airport. When we arrived at the president’s residence, we immediately moved on to conversations and tea. Just as at the Mashuk forum, Yevkurov was a very easy and pleasant person to talk to.
The meeting was delayed for several hours, and my recorder did not work. So here is our conversation, which was reconstructed with the help of one of our bloggers - Ilya Varlamov.
About the “hotline”
The number of one of the presidential lines was published in local newspapers so that anyone could call Yevkurov directly. The president expected to hear complaints about corruption, the drugs problem and gangs, but received instead complaints about lack of water and lost cows. At the moment, the president no longer answers the calls and just reads the text messages.
About religion
Although Yevkurov is a religious man, he believes that the over-reliance of youth on Islam is not a positive trend.
About the behaviour of a guest
We have discussed the issue of the incorrect behaviour of Caucasian youngsters in other regions. Yevkurov agreed that their conduct is rude and defiant and recalled the famous saying: "One should sing the songs of the driver one is with."
About cars
"Previously I had a small motorcade of three cars. We moved slowly, at a speed of 90 kilometres per hour. In the end I got what I got. Two people were killed. Now there are eight cars, some of which are armoured.”
About the happiest time
"The happiest time will come when I will no longer need protection."
About video cameras
"It is hard to get used to the cameras. All my life I was a military man, worked in the intelligence service. What I was always running from has finally caught me. Now I’ve got it all for a lifetime"
About “nesoglasnye”
"There is more discontent. Not everyone will be satisfied with the normal authorities.”
To be continued
Olesya Pelageina, Mashuk - Moscow - Magas - Erzi. Exclusively for VK
