Oleg Orlov: local authorities fail to reverse trend of violence in Dagestan

On September 6, on the anniversary 25th Moscow International Book Fair, the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" presented two books, dedicated to the events that took place in Northern Caucasus in recent years.

The stand "Human Rights", organized by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, was in the section D of the 75th building of the All-Russian Exhibition Centre in Moscow. Girls in white T-shirts with inscriptions "Human Rights" offered visitors a variety of books on human rights themes.

In particular, the Book Fair presented a new book of Oleg Orlov, the leader of the programme "Hot Spots", and Ekaterina Sokiryanskaya, Director of the project on Northern Caucasus of the International Crisis Group, a member of the Board of the Human Rights Centre "Memorial", entitled "New Course of Magomedov? Reasons of Civil Confrontation, Human Rights Situation and Attempts to Consolidate Society in the Republic of Dagestan. March 2010 - March 2011". Besides, a new book of Alexander Cherkasov, Chairman of the Board of the Human Rights Centre "Memorial", entitled "Fate Unknown", which was presented on February 13 at the office of the Human Rights Centre.

Visitors willingly purchased the books of human rights defenders.

The new book with volume of 200 pages was published in 500 copies. The book has eight chapters: the first two chapters narrate about appointment of Magomedsalam Magomedov to the positions of the leader of Dagestan and the adoption of the new President of the Republic by the local elites. Then, it comes to the situation in Dagestan: the book narrates in details the operational situation in the region, tells the reader of terror acts, torture of detainees by power agents, extrajudicial executions, beatings of lawyers and human rights defenders, committed by policemen. At the end of their book, Oleg Orlov and Ekaterina Sokiryanskaya offer their readers, among which, the authors hope, there will be top-ranking officials and power agents, the recommendations to overcome the current situation in the region.

"The stand was organized by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The HRC 'Memorial' is present as a sector," Oleg Orlov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

The human rights defender said that the book "New Course of Magomedov" represents a revised, complete report, presented by the HRC "Memorial" in last April; however, in connection with the murder of Sheikh Said Afandi Al-Chirkavi, the spiritual leader of Muslims of Dagestan, and six his followers, the report became more urgent.

The preparation of the book of Oleg Orlov and Ekaterina Sokiryanskaya took a long time, since the situation in Dagestan was constantly changing. This was stated by Alexander Cherkasov, the author of the book "Fate Unknown", Chairman of the Board of HRC "Memorial". According to him, government officials and law enforcement officers should pay attention to the facts, presented in the book, and understand the recommendations.

"The aim of the book is to show that the complex problems are to be solved not by brute force, but only with the knowledge and consideration of all the features of the country, in which you work," Alexander Cherkasov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.