Author: VK
In the United States the hearing of the "Boston bombers" continues. U.S. officials have called Johar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev the perpetrators of terrorist acts at the Boston Marathon on April 15. In an interview to VK a member of the Presidential Council for Civil Society Institutions and Human Rights, the chief editor of the news portal "Caucasian policy", Maxim Shevchenko, expressed his point of view on this story and commented on the events in Syria and in the North Caucasus.
- How do you think the story of the Tsarnaev brothers will influence Russian-American relations?
- I hope that the Russian party will receive exhaustive explanations of the extra-judicial killings of Russian citizens in the United States. Depending on the level and depth of these explanations, I think this relationship should develop. Thus, at least, it would be in normal conditions, in the civilized world. If an American citizen were shot and killed by agents of the FSB in Russia, it would greatly influence Russian-American relations. We do not want a deterioration of the relationship, but it seems to me that we need to protect our citizens abroad.
- According to some experts, the Syrian issue divides the community in the North Caucasus. Do you share this view?
- Yes, I agree. In Syria, fighting is going on between Salafis and Shia, between part of the representatives of Sunni Islam and part of the Shiites. And between the Salafis and Sunnis, too, because many Sunnis are also on the side of Bashar al-Assad.
I know Dagestan very well, I know this environment. Discussions carried out there are very fierce. Takfir, that is, charges of disbelief, that someone is a kafir, can be received easily. There is just a kind of epidemic takfirism, at least on the social networks. But the Syrian government has not lost the war, not capitulated, and it even resists and makes significant strikes on the rebels; this is quite a positive factor, as it takes the process of confrontation to peace. If someone cannot win a quick military victory, then he starts to talk about negotiations. The opposition is inclined to negotiate more and more.
The initiators of this war (and these are Israel, the U.S. and the kingdoms of the Middle East) do not care about either Sunnis or the Shiites, believe me. Their main goal is to strike at "Hezbollah", which destroyed 54 Israeli tanks and is the only one of all the Arab political entities, public or parastatal, which have defeated the IDF - the Israeli army. Does anyone believe that Israel will forget it? One of the main objectives of the Syrian war, which was produced by Israel, is to create a "ring" around "Hezbollah" and achieve its military defeat.
The supply of the S-300 to Syria, which has already begun, inspires hope that it will not take place. The victory of the forces of evil will not occur. Syria will exist as a multi-faith, free state, in which people of all schools of thought - Sunnis, Shiites and Alawites - will be able to live in peace. And the Salafis, who lived there ...
I have been in Syria. There were Salafis, who in Dagestan in general cannot open their mouth. In Syria, the guys were so cool, especially from Iraq. They were not arrested before the war for some reason. They lived in peace and preached what they wanted. In Chechnya, such people, for example, cannot appear in the street, and there was a whole mosque in Damascus for them, all that you want. So I hope that Syria would become after victory a constitutional, democratic republic. Of course, it will change the political system, the "Baath" party will go out of power, of course, a democratic republic will be established, but it will definitely exist. Neither the Gulf nor Turkey, nor Israel nor the U.S. can break the will of the Syrian people, largely due to Russia, for the Syrians are very grateful to Russia.
- How do you assess the internal situation in Dagestan? Since early May, a series of explosions have shaken the republic. What do you think is the reason for them?
- This is the shake-up made by Ramadan Abdullatipov among the Dagestani elite. I believe that most of the attacks were carried out as a result of the criminal gang warfare that exists between the different clans of the Dagestani elite. The more Ramazan Gadzhimuradovich will clean Dagestan of thieves, crooks, gangsters, murderers, rapists, which, unfortunately, are a part of the ruling elite of Dagestan, the fiercer will be the resistance of the criminal underworld. "Caucasian Politics” clearly identified the killer and his clients of Khadzhimurat Kamalov, our colleague, the chief editor of "Draft". According to fairly reliable data of the security forces, we have named Shamil Isayev as the main organizer, Deputy Interior Magomedov, nicknamed "Curly," and the three assassins who testified. But the deal stalled. Why has it slowed down? I believe that, in particular, the removal of Savrulin (Alexei Savrulin headed the Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Republic of Dagestan - Ed.) is a huge step towards peace-0building in Dagestan. Let Savrulin be deputy head of the investigative committee in the Yaroslavl region. I don't think he will be distinguished there, but just a normal investigative committee, which will, without respect of persons, punish the real criminals, murderers and corrupt officials, which are numerous in Dagestan, is one of the guarantees of peace-building.
Abdullatipov joined the fight against a terrible evil – the Dagestani elite over the past few years, part of it. Most of these people have to live by these rules. They would gladly have lived under other laws. These are decent people - businessmen, leaders.
Abdulatipov’s fight causes a reaction. I do not believe in any activity from the wild "forest". The "forest" is crushed. Gadzhidadaev is killed (one of the leaders of the armed underground in Dagestan, Ibrahim Gadzhidadaev - Ed.). The emirs are also killed.
Well, I do not believe that Zagir Arukhov (Minister of National Policy, Religious Affairs and External Relations of the Republic of Dagestan (2003-2005). - Ed.), Nadir Khachilayev (leader of the Union of Muslims of Russia, Chairman of the Dagestan branch of the Peace Foundation - Ed.) Harun Kurbanov (Ph.D., head of the Department of Information Policy under the President of Dagestan. - Ed.) were killed by them. And no one in Dagestan believes it. There are people around who all covered with blood, but neither they nor their families face any troubles. What kind of terrorists are those who kill innocent people?
- How would you comment on the situation with the elections in Ingushetia?
- The elections in Ingushetia, I believe, are the will of the Ingush people. I was at the convention, despite the criticism of the opposition. Magomed Mutsolgov (head of Ingush human rights organization "Mashr". - Ed.) was there, for example, as well as Ruslan Aushev. So, whether you like it or not, it is necessary to accept the will of the Congress of the Ingush people, held by Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, who chose a specific type of election for the head of Ingushetia. It is too late to change anything. Ruslan Aushev came to the Congress, delivered and expressed his position and did not agree. But the people took the general solution. I think we should follow the seniors, those who are definitely respected by the Ingush people. So, whether you like it or not, this procedure is now necessary to ensure the peaceful development of the Ingush people, the Ingush republic, without internal confrontations and provocations. This is my personal opinion.
