Persoverzicht Tsjetsjenië - september 2018

• 2018-10-09
• Democratie & mensenrechten Europa in de wereld

10 september 2018

Elections: More than 4,500 elections and referendums of different levels were held in 80 Russian regions on the single voting day of 9 September. Direct gubernatorial elections were held in 22 regions, and the heads of three regions – Dagestan, Ingushetia and the Yamalo-Nenetsky autonomous district – were elected by regional parliaments. According to preliminary results, incumbent governors or acting heads of regions are leading in gubernatorial elections in most of the regions. Incumbent Moscow mayor Sergey Sobyanin gained 70% of the vote in the Moscow mayoral elections. Voter turnout in Moscow was 30.89%. Incumbent governor of the Moscow region Andrey Vorobyov received 62.5% of the vote in the Moscow region governor elections. Meanwhile, four regions – the Vladimir region, the Khabarovsk and Primorsky territories and the Republic of Khakassia –will hold the second round of governor elections. Reportedly, the Communist Party's list of candidates is leading in regional legislative elections in the Irkutsk region. The Communist Party is also leading in regional legislative elections in Khakassia and the Ulyanovsk region, and the Communist Party is ahead of the ruling United Russia party on the party lists in elections to the city dumas in Togliatti and Syzran (the Samara region's second and third largest cities). Commenting on the outcome of the elections, experts highlight the return of the second round in gubernatorial elections [RBK daily reminds that in 2015, a runoff election was held only in the Irkutsk regions]. Media name, among factors that had an impact on the outcome of the elections, the government's plans to increase the retirement age. Expert Alexander Pozhalov, cited by Vedomosti, points out that the most massive protest against pension reform was recorded in Siberia and Russia's Far East. MK views the elections as a "de facto referendum on public confidence in Putin's internal policy course." (Gazeta.ru, Izvestia, Kommersant, MK, RBK, RIAN, RG, Vedomosti; Rossiya 1)

21 september 2018

Ethnic tensions in Kabardino-Balkaria: Investigators in the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria (North Caucasus) have launched an inquiry into a conflict in a village where about 40 people have been detained during clashes between the Balkars and the Kabardins on 18-19 September. Clashes erupted over an 18th-century battle.  (MK)

24 september 2018

Chechen human rights activist Titiyev case: Last week, the Shali city court in Chechnya decided to hear the case against the head of Memorial's office in Chechnya Oyub Titiyev behind closed doors. Titiyev has been charged with 'illegal drug possession'. (Novaya Gazeta)

27 september 2018

Chechnya-Ingushetia administrative border issue: On Wednesday in Magas (Ingushetia), Chechen head Ramzan Kadyrov and Ingushetia's head Yunus-Bek Yevkurov signed an agreement on setting out the administrative border between the two regions. The deal provides for "the equal exchange of uninhabited territories" in Chechnya's Nadterechny district and in Ingushetia's Malgobek district. Some commentators express the hope that the signing of the document could put an end or mitigate a long-lasting dispute over the administrative border between Chechnya and Ingushetia. Meanwhile, press reports on protests staged by local residents in Magas and Ingushetia's Sunzha district against the transfer of land to Chechnya. Security measures have been tightened in Magas. Putin's spokesman Peskov said that Putin had been informed about the situation in the region. (Gazeta.ru, Interfax, Kommersant, MK, RBK, Vedomosti)