Aslan Kodzoev: I did not act against President of Ingushetia

The statement with criticism of the voyage of President of Ingushetia Yunus-Bek Evkurov to South Ossetia was not directed against Evkurov, but against those forces which draw in Ingushetia into the state of enmity, said Aslan Kodzoev, adviser of the head of the republic for interaction with public organizations. He has confirmed to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent his authorship of the sensational statement in the blog.

"Indeed, I'm the author of this text, where I express my particular stand; although, of course, emotionally, it's too hot. My text is in no case against Evkurov. It's against those forces, which involve Ingushetia in the situation of enmity," said Kozdoev.

Let us remind you that Yunus-Bek Evkurov, as a member of Russian delegation, takes part in celebrating the 20th anniversary of South Ossetia's independence in Tskhinvali. Meanwhile, experts in Ingushetia are ambiguous about the voyage; in particular, it was sharply scarified by Aslan Kodzoev.

According to President's adviser, the text "was written after we all read the statement of high-ranking South-Ossetian official Pukhaev, where he offered to close the border with Ingushetia for another time use a tested 'crowbar' (force) against the Ingush people."

"Many people were indignant with the silence of the federal centre in reply to such statement of an official of a neighbouring state. A strained situation was a result. The public of Ingushetia was indignant," Aslan Kodzoev has explained.

He believes that "Evkurov feels quite uneasy in such situation, and he, as President, uses his best efforts not to admit a still worse development of events."

The Ingush oppositionist Magomed Khazbiev made his comment: "Aslan wrote this text after Evkurov's meeting with President of South Ossetia, after their handshaking and embrace. I talked to Kozdoev. The friendliness, expressed by Evkurov to Kokoity, was only his opinion; while what Aslan wrote was the opinion of all Ingush people. He expressed himself much softer that the people would have. After Evkurov's voyage to Tskhinvali, you may read quite a lot in our blogs."

Kaloy Akhilgov, press secretary of the President of Ingushetia, also believes that the public opinion is with the adviser.

"Probably, Aslan was right, but it would be better if he expressed his opinion directly to President, since he is his adviser," the press-secretary has emphasized.

Mr Akhilgov could not suppose whether the statement in the blog would entail any President's cadre decisions.