Yunus-Bek Yevkurov: “We will make sure that none of our compatriots is mistreated anywhere in the world”

Moscow honoured the Ingush students who entered Moscow higher education centers last weekend. The idea of the holiday belongs to Ingush Leader Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, who met with a correspondent of Vestnik Kavkaza at the Russkaya Pesnya Moscow State Music Theater of Folklore, where freshmen were congratulated. Yevkurov described the youth policy and geopolitics.

- Yunus-Bek Bamatgireyevich, in 1989, you entered the Ryazan Higher Air Assault Command School. What was your first year like?

- I started as a cadet. Some time later, I became a squad commander, then a company sergeant. At military school had a barrack atmosphere, and an ordinary civil higher education center certainly differs from it. The most important thing for me at the school was to study. The level of civil education was very low, especially considering that I was still working after the army. To say that I had knowledge would certainly be dishonest. There were other guys who entered after the army, we still had to spend two hours sitting and studying after bedtime, then an hour before waking up. We slept for 4-5 hours. On the other hand, we were growing potential because companies had guys who entered the [military] school after [high] school – gold-medal owners, A-graders. With their help, we caught up with what we missed or forgot while serving. We wanted to study more, work more, to be in line without coevals.

- How did you come up with the idea of the Freshman’s Day?

- Every native of the Caucasus, when beyond the Caucasus, should not only respect his own nation – Ingushetians or Ossetians – he should respect the Caucasus as a whole, be proud to be a native of the Caucasus, thus promoting the culture of the Caucasus. We, adults, organizing such events, should highlight those who can be considered an example.

When they write that natives of the Caucasus did something, I feel bad, regardless of their nationality, because they shame the Caucasus.

It's the same if we go beyond the country, we need to understand that we have great Russia behind our back, and we need to raise the authority of Russia with our cultured behaviour. Those who say that we have bears walking in cities should be shown the culture, knowledge of languages, customs, traditions, so that people would see that Russians are like that.

Promotion of students shows that we – adults – should treat everyone equally, regardless of nationality. It does not matter what the nationality of a person doing bad deeds is, any elder has the right to make remarks. Any elder may say “thank you” to a young man of any nationality for doing a good deed.

- Do you want graduates of the higher education center to glorify Ingushetia with their science work in Moscow or do you want A-graders to go back to their home cities and work there?

- Regional authorities should help those who can become champions in studies, those who can write scientific works, who can make a product for their line and go for a Nobel Prize. Others should try to go home, make use of the knowledge they gained here. But if there are no such places at home, then 60% of guys graduating from higher education centers find themselves away – in commerce, in large companies or open their own businesses.

But we have many guys who are no A-graders but remain an example in studies and conduct. They should not think that we promote only A-graders. It is just that A-graders are ahead, we will motivate and stimulate them, so that mid-graders would catch up with them. At the same time, even those who get firm C grades should be thanked for the culture of behaviour and for being good guys.

- What specializations are popular among Ingush youth?

- Three years ago, the specializations of economist, financier and lawyer were popular. Today, guys go for technical specializations, and it is very pleasing. They work as machinists, car mechanics and say that it is better than a higher education. They may be wrong, but the most important thing is that they are mastering a profession. By popularizing certain professions, we stimulate young people for education.

- What part can Ingushetia play in realizing the economic policy of import displacement announced in the light of the Western sanctions imposed on Russia?

- We have very serious steps in import displacement in apple orchards. From next year we will be sending apples to Russian regions. We have the same story with potatoes. In the line of agricultural complex, we highlight several lines: they are vegetables, fruits (apples, apricots, cherries), they are dairy products and the meat line.

- The past few months in Azerbaijan are being called “Russian” – many Russian officials have visited Baku. What relations link Ingushetia and Azerbaijan?

- Azerbaijan is a strategic partner for Russia, including in cooperation on the Caspian coast taking into account the border with Turkey and the route to the East. Azerbaijan is our strategic partner, starting with Heydar Aliyev, who made a huge contribution to the development of the Soviet state, modern Azerbaijan and Russia. We have a good project being realized in Ingushetia with Azerbaijan, we have close cooperation and friendship. The Azerbaijani diaspora in Ingushetia is peculiar for its industriousness, the will to work for the well-being of Ingushetia, Russia and native Azerbaijan. We have good working and friendly ties with the authorities of Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijani people as a whole.

- Today, some say that many guys from the Caucasus are fighting on the territory of Ukraine. What is true from their stories and what is false?

- There are volunteers from all over Russia on the territory of Ukraine, especially if we take the Donetsk and the Luhansk people’s republics. It is an expression of the feeling of patriotism, the common touch, comradeship. I would not forbid anyone from fulfilling their patriotic duty. I had a different feeling at the start of the events. But I see now how fascism is rising under the halo of democracy, it is a very hideous thing, such as international terrorism. And thinking that it does not concern us and concerns only Ukraine is costly. Sooner or later, it will concern us.

Besides, we cannot allow our compatriots to be treated as though they have no protection. The whole country should rise and protect them. Not only in the Donetsk and the Luhansk people’s republics, in Odessa, Kharkiv and Kiev too. We should not forget that Kiev is the mother of Russian cities. We need to remember, but most importantly Ukrainians should remember it, remember our common history. Even if any of them were raised in the spirit of Nazism, nationalism and hatred for everything Russian, those who call us “Moskals” or “Colorads” should change their opinion.

First of all, of course, the West and the U.S. should stop using double standards, stop thinking that Russia is a state to toy with. Russia is a country ready to stand up for itself and for its compatriots, wherever they are. If the Americans dictate their conditions to the whole world, show that they protect their citizens in any part of the planet, I applaud, I take my hat off; but they should not think that Russia cannot do that. We will make sure that none of our compatriots is mistreated anywhere in the world.

Moscow honoured the Ingush students who entered Moscow higher education centers last weekend. The idea of the holiday belongs to Ingush Leader Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, who met with a correspondent of Vestnik Kavkaza at the Russkaya Pesnya Moscow State Music Theater of Folklore, where freshmen were congratulated. Yevkurov described the youth policy and geopolitics.- Yunus-Bek Bamatgireyevich, in 1989, you entered the Ryazan Higher Air Assault Command School. What was your first year like?- I started as a cadet. Some time later, I became a squad commander, then a company sergeant. At military school had a barrack atmosphere, and an ordinary civil higher education center certainly differs from it. The most important thing for me at the school was to study. The level of civil education was very low, especially considering that I was still working after the army. To say that I had knowledge would certainly be dishonest. There were other guys who entered after the army, we still had to spend two hours sitting and studying after bedtime, then an hour before waking up. We slept for 4-5 hours. On the other hand, we were growing potential because companies had guys who entered the [military] school after [high] school – gold-medal owners, A-graders. With their help, we caught up with what we missed or forgot while serving. We wanted to study more, work more, to be in line without coevals.- How did you come up with the idea of the Freshman’s Day?- Every native of the Caucasus, when beyond the Caucasus, should not only respect his own nation – Ingushetians or Ossetians – he should respect the Caucasus as a whole, be proud to be a native of the Caucasus, thus promoting the culture of the Caucasus. We, adults, organizing such events, should highlight those who can be considered an example.When they write that natives of the Caucasus did something, I feel bad, regardless of their nationality, because they shame the Caucasus.It's the same if we go beyond the country, we need to understand that we have great Russia behind our back, and we need to raise the authority of Russia with our cultured behaviour. Those who say that we have bears walking in cities should be shown the culture, knowledge of languages, customs, traditions, so that people would see that Russians are like that.Promotion of students shows that we – adults – should treat everyone equally, regardless of nationality. It does not matter what the nationality of a person doing bad deeds is, any elder has the right to make remarks. Any elder may say “thank you” to a young man of any nationality for doing a good deed.- Do you want graduates of the higher education center to glorify Ingushetia with their science work in Moscow or do you want A-graders to go back to their home cities and work there?- Regional authorities should help those who can become champions in studies, those who can write scientific works, who can make a product for their line and go for a Nobel Prize. Others should try to go home, make use of the knowledge they gained here. But if there are no such places at home, then 60% of guys graduating from higher education centers find themselves away – in commerce, in large companies or open their own businesses.But we have many guys who are no A-graders but remain an example in studies and conduct. They should not think that we promote only A-graders. It is just that A-graders are ahead, we will motivate and stimulate them, so that mid-graders would catch up with them. At the same time, even those who get firm C grades should be thanked for the culture of behaviour and for being good guys.- What specializations are popular among Ingush youth?- Three years ago, the specializations of economist, financier and lawyer were popular. Today, guys go for technical specializations, and it is very pleasing. They work as machinists, car mechanics and say that it is better than a higher education. They may be wrong, but the most important thing is that they are mastering a profession. By popularizing certain professions, we stimulate young people for education.- What part can Ingushetia play in realizing the economic policy of import displacement announced in the light of the Western sanctions imposed on Russia?- We have very serious steps in import displacement in apple orchards. From next year we will be sending apples to Russian regions. We have the same story with potatoes. In the line of agricultural complex, we highlight several lines: they are vegetables, fruits (apples, apricots, cherries), they are dairy products and the meat line.- The past few months in Azerbaijan are being called “Russian” – many Russian officials have visited Baku. What relations link Ingushetia and Azerbaijan?- Azerbaijan is a strategic partner for Russia, including in cooperation on the Caspian coast taking into account the border with Turkey and the route to the East. Azerbaijan is our strategic partner, starting with Heydar Aliyev, who made a huge contribution to the development of the Soviet state, modern Azerbaijan and Russia. We have a good project being realized in Ingushetia with Azerbaijan, we have close cooperation and friendship. The Azerbaijani diaspora in Ingushetia is peculiar for its industriousness, the will to work for the well-being of Ingushetia, Russia and native Azerbaijan. We have good working and friendly ties with the authorities of Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijani people as a whole.- Today, some say that many guys from the Caucasus are fighting on the territory of Ukraine. What is true from their stories and what is false?- There are volunteers from all over Russia on the territory of Ukraine, especially if we take the Donetsk and the Luhansk people’s republics. It is an expression of the feeling of patriotism, the common touch, comradeship. I would not forbid anyone from fulfilling their patriotic duty. I had a different feeling at the start of the events. But I see now how fascism is rising under the halo of democracy, it is a very hideous thing, such as international terrorism. And thinking that it does not concern us and concerns only Ukraine is costly. Sooner or later, it will concern us.Besides, we cannot allow our compatriots to be treated as though they have no protection. The whole country should rise and protect them. Not only in the Donetsk and the Luhansk people’s republics, in Odessa, Kharkiv and Kiev too. We should not forget that Kiev is the mother of Russian cities. We need to remember, but most importantly Ukrainians should remember it, remember our common history. Even if any of them were raised in the spirit of Nazism, nationalism and hatred for everything Russian, those who call us “Moskals” or “Colorads” should change their opinion.First of all, of course, the West and the U.S. should stop using double standards, stop thinking that Russia is a state to toy with. Russia is a country ready to stand up for itself and for its compatriots, wherever they are. If the Americans dictate their conditions to the whole world, show that they protect their citizens in any part of the planet, I applaud, I take my hat off; but they should not think that Russia cannot do that. We will make sure that none of our compatriots is mistreated anywhere in the wo