Timur Utsoyev, Grozny. Exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza
It is suggested to form a pro-Russian civil net of nonprofit organizations in the North Caucasus, which would encourage civil society’s development.Representatives of nonprofit organizations and local state institutes told Vestnik Kavkaza about civil societies in Chechnya and their tasks.
Abdulla Istamulov, deputy director on relations with religious and social organizations of the administration of the head and the government of Chechnya
Social organizations play a very important role. But it is not a key role, because the state holds all resources. But representatives of nonprofit organizations influence social opinion. If we say that Chechnya is a democratic republic and it has civil society institutes, it is thanks to activity of such organizations. However, there are few effective organizations. Ramzan Kadyrov meets us every year, tells us to help and define problems. And he is ready to support us. For example, his 451st order on additional measures on providing rights and freedoms of people and citizens in Chechnya is unique for the country. The heads of municipal districts and city districts of the republic were recommended to form public councils on providing human rights. Each council consists of a representative of the administrations, non-governmental social organizations and religious activists; no more than 10 people are included into one council. However, their working is low-qualitative.
Ruslan Yarkiyev, chairman of the regional social organization Stimul
Civil society in Chechnya and in Russia is being formed. But contribution by such organizations may be huge. They fulfill duties in various spheres – social, humanitarian, law-enforcement spheres. Today the number of organizations in republic is growing, they cooperate with the authorities. We have the 40th federal law on socio-oriented organizations – the state can help and make certain social orders, according to the law. But today the law is working ineffectively. For example, our organization is building inter-ethnic communications, dealing with rehabilitation of children from the risk group. We train school psychologists. It is our contribution to the development of the education system. The effect is obvious.
Recently we have visited the international camp in Azerbaijan. It has its own web-site, children are communicating there – Chechens, Ossetians, Ingush, Azerbaijanis, even Afghans who live in Azerbaijan. They share news, positive moments in the life of the republics. Many of them learn about Chechnya and told their parents about positive changes in the republic. We look forward to financial support from the state. Some support us, but nobody is financing us constantly. There is no clear mechanism of cooperation between non-governmental organizations and the state bodies. This should be established.
Sultan Ibragimov, deputy head of the administration of the Ministry of Justice of Russia in Chechnya
Our organizations are working passively. They socially withdrew. Perhaps it is caused by the fact that the state doesn’t pay adequate attention to them. Probably it is connected with the poor working of the organizations. Maybe the process is not organized well. Their activity should be intensively covered. Society has to know what they are doing and how they act. Today social organizations mind their business quietly, they work in schools, in orphan houses, and so on. Unfortunately, there are dead non-profit organizations. There are some of them which extremely lack financing. At the same time, there are those which do their business step by step and don’t shout about this. We have difficult starting conditions. It is so hard to find and rent an office in Grozny. But organizations are working despite all difficulties.
