In Magas, protesters shift focus on demands for Ingush leader's resignation

In Magas, participants of the protest action against the agreement on the borders between Ingushetia and Chechnya declare that they will not stop their protest until they succeed in resolving the problems voiced by them. The authorities of Ingushetia have announced their willingness to negotiate with the protesters.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that starting from October 4, the capital of Ingushetia hosts the around-the-clock mass rally in protest against the change in the border with Chechnya. Protesters demand a referendum on the border issue and resignation of the head of the republic, Yunus-Bek Evkurov, who signed the border agreement with Chechnya. Protesters stay in the square day and night.

"During those five days, I spend part of nights here, since, of course, I also need a rest. And at the daylight, I stand here with my people, on my own initiative, to defend my rights. It was very cold and uncomfortable, but everything else was fine," said Muslim, a resident of Nazran.

Meanwhile, he has expressed the opinion that the protesters "will stand up to the very end," but he does not like that they now talk more about the resignation of Yunus-Bek Evkurov. "From the very beginning, they demanded to cancel the decision on the borders. And now they are talking more about resignation. It is unlikely that he [Yunus-Bek Evkurov] will be removed from his post, I don't like this demand. The protestors should talk more about the borders," noted Muslim.

Protester Alikhan from Malgobek also believes that the rally participant should not focus their protest on the demand for the resignation of Yunus-Bek Evkurov. "The initial demands to cancel the decision on the land have shifted to the demand for resignation. I am not a supporter of Yunus-Bek Evkurov, but I believe that the demand to cancel the illegal decision on the border should be voiced in the first place," Alikhan added.

Ingush leader Yunus-Bek Evkurov is ready to cooperate with members of the organizing committee on the establishment of the administrative border with Chechnya, which creation was initiated by Ruslan Aushev at the rally in Magas, reported Artyom Perekhrist, the adviser to the leader of Ingushetia.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on October 8, 2018 at 05:53 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.