The leadership of the Chechen Republic intends to raise the question of establishing the administrative border with Ingushetia at the federal level. The issue has been discussed at a meeting with the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, the press service of the head and the government of the republic reports, according to Interfax. "The meeting's participants have reported that officials of Ingushetia are taking steps not only towards the legal recognition of the territories that the Chechen authorities deliberately left as inter-republican ones, but also towards the seizure of new territories, wedging deeper into the Chechen Republic," the statement says.
It notes that "there are references to some papers, allegedly signed
by Johar Dudayev."
Kadyrov said that "these actions are provocative." "Everyone knows
that the Sunzha region and large areas of the Malgobek region are
parts of Chechnya. If Russian law, the Russian leadership declares
Dudayev's regime illegal, and all its agreements, orders and decrees
are declared unlawful, what kind of contract with Dudayev is Ingushetia
talking about? If something related to the boundary is recognized as
valid, it is necessary to recognize the legitimacy of Dudayev, his
criminal regime, and all that he did. To recognize that Ichkeria was
a state," Kadyrov says.
He stresses that "in fact, all the talk about the availability of a
document on the administrative boundary line between the two
republics, agreed with Dudayev, is an invention and a lie."
Meanwhile, the head of Chechnya notes that "the demarcation line, which we
never drew and which we were never interested in, day after day,
month after month is moving into Chechnya." "Only in the region of
Goragorsk has a unilateral disengagement been conducted, resulting in
the infringement on hundreds of thousands of hectares in addition
to lands previously cut off from Chechnya," Kadyrov says.
"We showed restraint. But their appetite is growing and is in the
process of capturing more and more areas of Chechnya. If someone does
not understand human language, we will allow no jokes," Kadyrov adds.
Addressing the Chechen Prime Minister, Abubakar Edelgerievu, he
demanded to "strictly warn the leaders of nearby state properties
and local officials not to step foot outside their native territory."
"Otherwise, we will call to order. For good reason," Kadyrov says.
Kadyrov recalled that "it's become known that Ingush government
officials are appealing to the federal government, requesting to hand over
more and more territories from neighboring areas of the Chechen
Republic."
He notes that "in recent years, an artificial line is being drawn for an
acute change in the demographic situation in Chechen native
lands." "Particularly in the Malgobek region, where there is accelerated
construction of new settlements. We understand why this is being
done," the head of Chechnya says.
Kadyrov says that Chechnya "still values the friendship and brotherly
relations with the Ingush people, but it is forced by law to take a
clear definition of the administrative boundary line between the two
republics." "It will strengthen good-neighbourliness and rule out the
possibility of anybody moving the border line," the head of the
republic added.
"I will raise the question of establishing the administrative border
between the republics at the federal level. If two republics,
two Federation subjects have split, the line between them really should
be drawn. This is necessary for economic activity, for taxation, for law
enforcement and environmental protection," Kadyrov says.
In turn, the head of Ingushetia, Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, says that the
administrative border between Ingushetia and the Chechen Republic
should be defined and that this is a necessity. "The administrative border between
Ingushetia and the Chechen Republic had to be drawn a long time ago.
Today we have a boundary between the municipalities of both republics,
in which we live. But the presence of the administrative border
between the two entities, I am sure, will strengthen our relationship
and eliminate the third force, which is more or less trying to embroil
our people," the head of Ingushetia says.
He stresses that for the people of Ingushetia and Chechnya, "the
administrative boundary will not, in my opinion, disturb the relations
which traditionally have been, are and will always be close."
In early August, Kadyrov made allegations to his
Ingush counterpart Yunus-Bek Yevkurov for his policy in relation to
members of the terrorist underground.
