Kizlyar conflict shows danger of new disputes around border with Chechnya

The disputable section of the border near Kizlyar, where the incident with road signposts broke out, had been offered by Chechnya to Dagestan in exchange for any other territory. However, authorities of Dagestan have done nothing to execute this exchange; and attempts to resolve this issue now are fraught with new conflicts, the Dagestani analysts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" believe.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on June 17, Khizri Shikhsaidov, Speaker of the People's Assembly of Dagestan, reported that Alexander Matovnikov, Presidential Plenipotentiary in the North-Caucasus Federal District, decided to suspend the demarcation of land between Dagestan and Chechnya.

When the border demarcation restarts, a new aggravation of the situation will occur, Albert Esedov, the head of the Dagestani branch of the "Yabloko" Party, is sure.

He has noted that border issues should be resolved at the local level, not only at the level of the republic's leadership. "The installation of the signpost and its consequences demonstrate that when the border demarcation [is resumed], tension will reappear," Mr Esedov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

The leadership of Chechnya failed to see any Dagestani authorities' sufficient activeness in border demarcation process. In its turn, by its actions, including the installation of signposts, the Chechen party sought to push the neighbouring republic to the offered territory exchange, says Gadjimurad Sagitov, the editor-in-chief of the "Novoye Delo" newspaper.

The journalist has recalled that in exchange for the territory near Kizlyar, Chechnya was to receive a similar territory in the Gumbetov District of Dagestan. Mr Sagitov is sure that such an exchange will not take place without conflict: the Dagestani authorities have nothing to offer the Gumbetov District, so that the locals easily agree to transfer a part of their lands to Chechnya.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on June 22, 2019 at 04:30 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.