Support The Moscow Times!

Opposition Leaders Arrested in Ingushetia After Violent Protests

Musa Malsagov Vladimir Smirnov / TASS

At least two opposition leaders in Russia’s republic of Ingushetia have been arrested on charges of attacking police shortly after being released from detention following protests against a divisive border-change deal.

Thousands took to the streets in Ingushetia last month over a land swap deal signed last fall with the neighboring republic of Chechnya in protests that occasionally turned violent. At least three organizers of the unauthorized protests — Akhmed Barakhoyev, Musa Malsagov and Barakh Chemurziyev — have each served 10 days behind bars.

Instead of being released, however, Malsagov and Chemurziyev have been detained again on suspicion of using force against law enforcement and calling for mass riots, the regional Caucasian Knot news agency reported on Saturday.

Barakhoyev, an Ingush elder and protest leader, had also been detained on suspicion of using violence against law enforcement, the outlet said.

All three had been placed behind bars for two months, the Caucasian Knot reported separately on Sunday.

On Monday, Ingush human rights activist Magomed Mutsolgov said law enforcement officials had surrounded his home and office.

“I guess it’s my turn to experience the brutality of [Ingush governor Yunus-Bek] Yevkurov,” he wrote on Facebook.

Chechnya and Ingushetia signed the controversial border-swap agreement on Sept. 26, 2018. Some estimates have shown that Ingushetia, already Russia’s smallest region, gave up 26 times more territory than Chechnya in the deal.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysiss and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more