Dagestani officials confirm belonging of tower near Ansalta village to Chechnya

The land around the tower located near the village of Ansalta belongs to Chechnya, Gaidarbeg Gaidarbegov, the head of the village, and Magomed Patkhulaev, the head of the Botlikh District of Dagestan, have confirmed. Such towers were built in Chechnya to protect trade routes and villages as signalling constructions and residential buildings, historians said.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on July 20, Magomed Daudov, the speaker of the Chechen parliament, treated the statement of the Dagestan historian, Zurab Gadjiev, that the Chechen watch tower near the village of Ansalta was built in the territory of the Botlikh District of Dagestan as a "provocation." Gadjiev explained that villagers had unsuccessfully sought a reaction of the authorities to the construction of the tower.

The foundation of the tower was built back in 2016, Mr Gaidarbegov has explained. According to his story, the works were performed by residents of the Chechen village of Kenkhi.

"The tower stands on the Chechen side. There are some provocateurs, but we have no grounds to oppose the construction," said Gaidarbegov.

Magomed Patkhulaev, the head of the Botlikh District, has confirmed that there are no disputable issues along the border of the two republics.

Residents of Chechnya reported that the tower construction was not broadly covered by media. According to their version, complexes, stylized as medieval battle towers, exist in various regions of Chechnya and, first of all, attract tourists.

"If the construction of this tower on the border had been broadly covered, they would have made a grand opening ceremony with the participation of residents of the Botlikh and Vedeno Districts; I think there would be no controversial issues," Vakha, a local resident, believes.