Flamming_Python
10-30-2008, 11:34 PM
MOSCOW, October 31 (Itar-Tass) -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev poured “cold war on smoking hotbed” in Ingushetia by dismissing regional President Murat Zyazikov and appointing a top military commander instead.
Although Zyazikov said he himself decided to resign, the change of authority has long been expected in the North Caucasian republic, which has been hit by a wave of armed attacks against government and police officials of late.
Reports from Ingushetia said the opposition was rejoicing Zyazikov’s resignation.
“People are celebrating. People are going into the streets and dancing lezginka,” said opposition leader Magomed Khazbiyev and pledged to cooperate with the new regional leader.
Zyazikov told Tass “I independently decided to resign, but I am not quitting executive authority. I am moving to Moscow (to work) most likely in a federal department,” he said.
The former president said he had done a lot in his seven years in office in Ingushetia “mostly in economy and the social sphere.” He listed migration and unemployment as the major problems in the republic.
However, Ingushetia that borders on Chechnya was clearly becoming a new hotbed of tensions in Russia’s North Caucasus.
On Thursday President Dmitry Medvedev replaced Zyazikov by Yunus-bek Yevkurov, 45, a former paratrooper and deputy Chief-of-Staff of the Volga-Ural military district.
Ingush by nationality Yevkurov was born in neighboring North Ossetia in 1963 and has six brothers and four sisters. He graduated from the Ryazan Higher School of Airborne Troops in 1989 and the Academy of the Russian Armed Forces General Staff, Russia’s highest institution of military education, in 2004.
In 1999, Yevkurov commanded a unit of Russia paratroopers that entered Kosovo and took control of the international airport there ahead of the forces of NATO countries.
In 2000 he was awarded the top military decoration of the Hero of Russia for the exemplary courage displayed while performing his professional duties in North Caucasus.
Senator from Ingushetia Issa Kostoyev said Yevkurov “makes an impression of a very exacting military man”.
“He comes from a decent family, which is respected in the Caucasus,” he told Tass.
Former Ingushi President Ruslan Aushev welcomed the decision to dismiss Zyazikov and said Yevkurov was the best choice out of all possible candidates.
State Duma deputy speaker Oleg Morozov from the ruling United Russia Party said Yevkurov’s appointment “was a signal to those forces that plan to destabilize the republic.”
Communist deputy speaker Ivan Melnikov said the replacement was a “bucket of cold water on the smoking hotbed” in Ingushetia.
Good riddance to bad rubbish. Hope this move was made in time.
Although Zyazikov said he himself decided to resign, the change of authority has long been expected in the North Caucasian republic, which has been hit by a wave of armed attacks against government and police officials of late.
Reports from Ingushetia said the opposition was rejoicing Zyazikov’s resignation.
“People are celebrating. People are going into the streets and dancing lezginka,” said opposition leader Magomed Khazbiyev and pledged to cooperate with the new regional leader.
Zyazikov told Tass “I independently decided to resign, but I am not quitting executive authority. I am moving to Moscow (to work) most likely in a federal department,” he said.
The former president said he had done a lot in his seven years in office in Ingushetia “mostly in economy and the social sphere.” He listed migration and unemployment as the major problems in the republic.
However, Ingushetia that borders on Chechnya was clearly becoming a new hotbed of tensions in Russia’s North Caucasus.
On Thursday President Dmitry Medvedev replaced Zyazikov by Yunus-bek Yevkurov, 45, a former paratrooper and deputy Chief-of-Staff of the Volga-Ural military district.
Ingush by nationality Yevkurov was born in neighboring North Ossetia in 1963 and has six brothers and four sisters. He graduated from the Ryazan Higher School of Airborne Troops in 1989 and the Academy of the Russian Armed Forces General Staff, Russia’s highest institution of military education, in 2004.
In 1999, Yevkurov commanded a unit of Russia paratroopers that entered Kosovo and took control of the international airport there ahead of the forces of NATO countries.
In 2000 he was awarded the top military decoration of the Hero of Russia for the exemplary courage displayed while performing his professional duties in North Caucasus.
Senator from Ingushetia Issa Kostoyev said Yevkurov “makes an impression of a very exacting military man”.
“He comes from a decent family, which is respected in the Caucasus,” he told Tass.
Former Ingushi President Ruslan Aushev welcomed the decision to dismiss Zyazikov and said Yevkurov was the best choice out of all possible candidates.
State Duma deputy speaker Oleg Morozov from the ruling United Russia Party said Yevkurov’s appointment “was a signal to those forces that plan to destabilize the republic.”
Communist deputy speaker Ivan Melnikov said the replacement was a “bucket of cold water on the smoking hotbed” in Ingushetia.
Good riddance to bad rubbish. Hope this move was made in time.