Civil war in Ingushetia may follow killing of Russian journalist Yevloyev

Russian Jotman reader informed us (see this post) that he sees a possible connection between the political situation in Ingushetia and the death of Russian journalist Yevloyev. Today, Sanjuro updates us in the situation in Ingushetia (which is close to North Ossetia, and borders Georgia).

Things in Ingushetia are worse than I thought.

Yevloyev spent most of the time in the last few months abroad fearing assasination or imprisonment. He comes to Russia virtually for one day, arrives from Moscow on the same flight, in the same business class cabin, with incumbent president Zyazikov. Gets apprehended right at the airport by top security officials, though with no formal arrest warrant. Right in the eyes of his friends and relatives policemen force him into a car - and then the motorcade splits to confuse the pursuers. Yevloyev's supporters chase the wrong car - he's not there. Soon afterwards he's found fatally wounded - shot through the head and thrown out of police vehicle, and dies in the hospital. President Zyazikov claims he knows nothing and advises the opposition to ask the police about the circumstances of the murder. The police claim he was killed when resisting arrest.

As of now the opposition is busy with the funeral. Once the funeral is over, they will either have to topple Zyazikov with legal means, or the will be a civil war.

M. Yevloyev was not planning to run for a government office in Ingushetia. He claimed his motives were disgust for M. Zyazikov's corrupt and incompetent regime. This summer the opposition petitioned for relieving M. Zyazikov of the office and for the former President Ruslan Aushev to return to the office and collected 80,000 votes for that - half of the republic's voting population. On Aug 4 the petition was handed in to Pres. Medvedev who is expected to give his answer by Sept 4 - three days from now... Some desperados in the opposition are calling for secession from the Federation if Zyazikov remains in the office.

Sanjuro notes that has turned to the Russian language paper Gazeta in trying to piece together the story.

Map: shows poverty level in the region. Ingushetia (above Georgia) is dark red, indicating severe poverty.