Latest Articles about North Caucasus
Moscow Excises “Separatist” Articles from Constitutions of Circassian Republics
The parliament of the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria has ratified changes in the republican constitution at the request of the Russian Prosecutor-General. Final agreement was reached on November 10 after prolonged debates followed by two unsuccessful attempts to vote on the issue (Gazeta Yuga, November 12).The... MORE
No Confirmation of Kadyrov’s Claim that Umarov May Have Been Killed
Unidentified gunmen shot up the home of a policeman in Ingushetia yesterday (November 15) evening. The incident took place in the city of Nazran when the attackers opened fire on the home of Magomed Yevloev, a State Automobile Inspectorate (GAI) officer, with automatic rifles and... MORE
Ingushetia’s President Loses his Luster in his First Year in Office
October 31 marked exactly a year since Yunus-bek Yevkurov was appointed as President of Ingushetia. Yevkurov replaced Murat Zyazikov, who was removed by Moscow (www.ingushetia.kavkaz-uzel.ru, October 31, 2008). The change of leadership in this small North Caucasus republic took place after it became impossible to... MORE
North Caucasus’ Ethnic Russian Population Shrinks as Indigenous Populations Grow
On November 3, Dagestani President Mukhu Aliev held a special meeting of the commission dedicated to the problems of ethnic Russians living in the republic. Despite the optimistic tone of the officials, it appears that ethnic Russians are still leaving Dagestan, although in fewer numbers... MORE
Attacks and Shootouts Reported in Dagestan, Ingushetia and Karachaevo-Cherkessia
The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry was quoted today (November 12) as saying that a blast from an “unidentified explosive device” last night had ruptured a section of the natural gas pipeline stretching between Mozdok, North Ossetia and Kazimagomed, Azerbaijan. The affected section of pipeline is... MORE
Rights Activists; Chechen Authorities Passing Off Slain Young People as Rebels
Chechen officials claim to have killed and captured a large number of rebels in the republic in recent weeks. However, human rights groups have cast doubts on the claims, saying that some of those identified as rebels were in fact civilian non-combatants.The Kavkazsky Uzel (Caucasian... MORE
Moscow and Grozny Evince Growing Nervousness Over Regional Security
Today, all Russia’s actions in the south are dictated by the increasingly active armed underground in the North Caucasus and Russia’s desire to oppose its growing influence on the region’s indigenous population. In the summer of 2009 alone 462 acts of violence were reported, while... MORE
Violence in Chechnya has Spiked Since Counter-Terrorist Operation’s End
November 3 marked the 200th day since the Russian government formally ended the “counter-terrorist” operation it launched in Chechnya in September 1999, and statistics collected by the Kavkazsky Uzel (Caucasian Knot) website show that more blood has been spilled since the April 16 announcement of... MORE
Attacks and Shootouts Reported in Ingushetia, North Ossetia, Dagestan and Chechnya
Violence has continued in the North Caucasus this week, with police, military personnel, suspected militants and civilians reportedly killed and wounded in attacks in Ingushetia, North Ossetia, Dagestan and Chechnya. Alexei Samborsky, an employee of Ingushneftegazprom, an oil and gas company in Ingushetia, was shot... MORE
Chechnya: Again the Epicenter of Insurgent Violence in the North Caucasus?
In recent months, federal operations in Ingushetia and Chechnya, as well as punitive security measures in Dagestan have gained momentum (ITAR-TASS, October 28). Official announcements indicate that these operations have hampered the ability of the insurgents in the North Caucasus to sustain large-scale attacks in... MORE