Yekaterina Sokiryanskaya: “Wrecking of Dagestan clans has begun”

Interview by Vestnik Kavkaza

The head of the International Crisis Group in Russia, the member of the HRC "Memorial" Yekaterina Sokiryanskaya, commented on the current situation in Dagestan. She described what, in her view, the achievements and failures are in the work of the authorities of Dagestan in 2013.

-          After Ramazan Abdulatipov’s arrival, has a lot changed in the republic? Do you think for the best or for the worst? What are the most important changes?

-          Almost half a year has passed since Ramazan Abdullatipov replaced Magomedsalam Magomedov as head of the Republic of Dagestan. Ramazan Gadzhimuradovich very actively took up the job. He travels a lot in the region, inspects the work of municipalities, institutions, enterprises, criticizes what is happening in the republic, makes very tough diagnoses, scolds officials, sometimes openly accusing them of theft and inefficiency. And I must say that his diagnosis is sound and not at all exaggerated. Because, really, recently those who follow events in Dagestan have noted that the institutions of the government and public administration are being destroyed and actually privatized, that the level of corruption is unprecedented, even in comparison with other regions of the North Caucasus.

Abdulatipov has already managed to take some serious steps. He has worked on changing the national budget in order to reduce the deficit and increase revenues. He apparently works with municipalities seriously.

The head of the republic spends lot of time on the development of education, the healthcare system, speaks a lot about these issues, the problems of health, criticizes doctors and says that they do not work well. He acknowledges that wages are small, but he says that they are worthy of it. All this is important, and it is important to send the right signals to society, the right signals to public officials and employees of the social sphere. But again, in education and in healthcare there are many systemic problems that require systemic solutions.

-          Did you sense changes in struggle against extremism?

-          Abdulatipov also changed the course of the work in combating extremism and terrorism. I attribute this not to his own principles but to the plan of the leadership of Russia to change the situation in Dagestan, and I think that Abdullatipov replaced Magomedov as head of the republic in connection with the change of the vector of policy of religious communities and the fight against the armed underground. The Commission on adaptation of militants was canceled – it was the only peaceful mechanism of reintegrating people into peaceful life. The commission used to be heavily and fairly criticized. But it should be developed.

-          Now there is no peaceful reintegration any more, is there?

-          Today a new commission with wider functions has been established. The mandate of the commission is not clear, as well as its composition. It is dimly known whether force structures’ members are involved in it or not; what social activists will take part in it. Abdulatipov insists on making adaptation anonymous, so that nobody knows who surrenders. But the transparency of the commission is doubtful. On the one hand, it is reasonable because many people didn’t want to address it because of its PR. On the other hand, it is impossible to make the work of the commission completely non-transparent, because abuses would take place in this case.

-          Have you noticed changes in the government policy on inter-religious problems?

-          Apparently, there is mopping up in the religious field. Under Magamedsalam the regime was much more liberal toward moderate Salafis; they could take part in social life; they provided education, opened some social organizations; there even was a football league; they involved young people in legal active religious life. Today almost all these initiatives have been eliminated. Many religious leaders are repressed. A majority had to leave. Some live semi-legally, some were killed. It leads to the fact that the moderate part of Salafi society would go underground, even if they didn’t take a weapon in their hands. A small part of the Salafi community takes up arms. However, under these circumstances we can expect a radicalization of the situation.

The last time I was in Dagestan was several months ago; and the trip which we undertook then leaves an awful impression. Tensions are growing rapidly. We were told in one of villages in which force structures roughly arrested a young man in a mosque and bit him, that many people have made up their minds. Those who had money left the country; those who had relatives left for Central Russia; those who had nothing of left for the “forests”. Obviously, repressions push people underground, and it is alarming.

-          Despite unsafe conditions, journalists work professionally in Dagestan.

-          Dagestan is the most dangerous place in Russia for journalists. 17 journalists were killed, but none of the murders was investigated thoroughly. The last murder of Ahmetnabi Ahmetnabiyev was a serious attack on all independent social institutions in Dagestan. Ahmetnabi was famous for his independent publications in various areas: from healthcare to human rights and issues connected with the everyday life of Dagestan citizens. He was a doctor-cardiologist, and worked in the hospital to his last day. At the same time, he wrote a lot, worked for almost 7 years as a journalist of Kavkazsky Uzel, was the deputy editor of the newspaper Novoe Delo, wrote articles for Kavkazskaya Politika. We, Moscow journalists, often went to him for help in finding necessary materials or contacts. He always helped. His analysis of Dagestan, of the situation in Dagestan was also very reasonable, honest, and important for those who watched the situation in the republic from outside. Ahmetbani’s murder is a terrorist attack, a signal to all who write and speak about the most difficult problems in the republic. Everybody thinks now - who will be next? And we fear for the lives of our colleagues who work there.

-          What do you think about the arrest of one of the most powerful officials of Dagestan, Said Amirov?

-          The arrest of Makhachkala’s mayor is an important and significant step, which has promoted Abdulatipov. Nobody would think that Amirov could be arrested a week ahead of this arrest. It seemed he was so powerful and affluent, that he controlled everything in the republic and had strong contacts beyond the region that it would never happen to him. However, for a long time there were talks about his criminal activity. So, the majority of those who we have met in Dagestan are very satisfied with the arrest.

Will it be the only step on the path of wrecking the Dagestani clans or will the law-enforcement agencies work on other affluent groups? The struggle against corruption should be systemic. Otherwise the game rules won’t change and the quality of the state power in Dagestan won’t change either. Statehood must be restored in Dagestan, and it is impossible without the elimination of criminal clans in the republic. Abdulatipov’s ideas on fighting corruption and wrecking the clan system in Dagestan make people hope for the best, and they support him.