11 June 2005, 14:40
Dagestan on fire
So-called targeted pre-emptive activities have started in Dagestan aiming to ensure law and order in the republic.
The press service of the republican Internal Affairs Ministry has today confirmed this information to Caucasian Knot. When asked in what districts and cities in the republic this operation is conducted, the interlocutor said, "You will not be mistaken if you say that it is conducted throughout Dagestan." The press service also confirmed that police forces from some of the republic's neighbouring regions had been sent to Dagestan. Interfax says the Russian Defence Ministry is also involved in the operation.
On 8 June, Dagestan's Security Council Secretary Ahmed-Nabi Magdigajiyev denied reports by some media that special forces were sent to the republic allegedly to prevent possible conflicts between residents of Dagestan and representatives of Chechen law enforcement and security agencies after a cruel special operation in Borozdinovskaia, Shelkovskaia district, Chechnya, where mostly Dagestanis live.
Eleven villagers were arbitrarily detained, four houses burnt down, and a 77-year-old village resident was killed in the "clean-up" operation.
The official version of Chechnya's law enforcement agencies is as follows: the activity was conducted in compliance with the law without any incidents. They have nothing to deal with the fire and the killing of the local resident.
