Magas rally demands Evkurov's resignation

The participants in the today's rally against the law on referendum have expressed distrust to the head of the republic, Yunus-Bek Evkurov, and demanded his resignation.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that today, in the city of Magas, the capital of Ingushetia, thousands of people came to a rally, sanctioned by the authorities, against the law on referendum.

"The venue of the rally is surrounded by policemen. Snipers are seen on high-rise buildings. It is not clear whom the head of [the republic] and law enforcers are going to fight with," Magomed Mutsolgov, the head of the "Mashr" human rights organization, wrote in his blog on the "Caucasian Knot".

According to his estimate, "at least 20,000 people" have already gathered on the square. "People continue coming; they openly express their distrust to the regional authorities ... The earlier declared demands have been complemented by the demand to introduce the direct election of the head of the republic and the mixed electoral system of deputies (MPs) of the National Assembly of Ingushetia and municipal councils. The issue of the distrust to the head of Ingushetia was put to the public vote, and people have unanimously supported it. The speakers all are united in their demands. Ingush elders are addressing the people and speak exclusively of the interests of the people, neglected by the republic's head," Mr Mutsolgov wrote in his blog.

Let us remind you that on October 4-17, 2018, in Magas, a round-the-clock protest against the change of the border with Chechnya was held. Starting from October 8, the action was sanctioned by the authorities.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on March 26, 2019 at 12:31 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.