19 February 2007, 23:01
Passions build up in Dagestan around election of Rector of Pedagogical University
The pre-election emotions, connected with the forthcoming on February 20 election of the Rector of the Dagestan State Pedagogical University (DSPU), have reached their peak in Dagestan. Part of the students and teachers are extremely indignant with the nationality of the candidate to the position.
Today, the traffic in the centre of Makhachkala, capital of Dagestan, was paralyzed for several hours. The offenders were the DSPU students and teachers who tried to march along Rasul Gamzatov Avenue to the Central Square of Makhachkala, but were stopped by militiamen.
A verbal skirmish burst out between the protesters and militiamen that grew into a fight. Finally, three militiamen got insignificant injuries. Two hours later, militiamen managed to hustle the demonstrators away from the carriageway of the street.
It is notable that according to a latent Dagestan "tradition," the place of the previous Rector should be taken by a person of the same nationality, in this case a Kumyk.
The "hero" of the current debates, Dzhafar Mollaev, candidate to the Rector's position, is a Lezgin, who has allegedly received a document from local authorities about his belonging to Kumyks.
Author: Timur Isayev, CK correspondent
