On January 26, 2011 Moscow was observing a day of mourning for those killed in the terrorist attack on Domodedovo airport. The consequences of the attack are commented on by the head of the Central Caucasiology under the Russian State University for the Humanities, Ismail Agakishiev.
-Today we are mourning for those killed and pray for the injured. The inhuman nature of terrorism consists in the fact that innocent people are killed, they have nothing in common with political conflicts. To prevent such terrorist attacks Russia should be united. Security measures should be systematic but not one-time steps. We forgot too soon about the events in Moscow subway in March 2010. It is necessary that all sound powers of our society - government, religious activists, art workers and civil activists - to criticize this dreadful action heavily. However, it should be done in a tolerant way, so not to destroy fragile inter-ethnic peace in Russia.
- Some experts say that the terrorist attack was committed by the gangs from the North Caucasus. Do you agree with them?
- Terrorism has no national belonging. Many respected people say about it. However, this time the mistake is repeated one more time. To speak about Caucasian mark of this attack is to provoke negative attitude to one part of our multi-national country. I think that people do not understand how deep the problem is. Accusations in nationalistic manner in the country of 180 peoples living in are a moral terrorism of innocent people.
We should be responsible for every word. The whole population of one region of Russia cannot be a criminal. The terrorist action was committed by certain persons by order of a certain criminal structure. We should call Russian citizens for cohesiveness against the crime, fear and fights. Whereas legal structures should do their job - find and punish the guilty. The society should feel cooperation of representatives of all confessions. Meetings between them are necessary. God is one for everyone. Religious activists, public workers and mass media should develop this direction of cohesiveness.
We should protect our country from terrorism. I think the only thing that can save Russia is cohesiveness of all 180 ethnic groups and peoples of Russia. If we let them divide us on religious and national grounds, we will have a poor future.
Interview by Eugeny Krishtalev. Exclusively for VK.
