Russia will take safest route in Ingushetia crisis

Subject

Islam and politics in Ingushetia.

Significance

Rivalries in the North Caucasian republic of Ingushetia are creating political uncertainty ahead of elections in September. A long-running dispute pits the muftiate (the official Muslim body) against Ingushetia's political leader Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, whom 'establishment clerics' accuse of being too soft on Islamic radicals. A public campaign has now begun to replace indirect with direct elections for the regional leadership in September in a bid to unseat Yevkurov.

Impacts

• Ingushetia will be high on the 'to do' list for Alexander Matoshnikov, the Kremlin's new North Caucasus overseer.
• Yevkurov will have to fend off accusations that his security forces have tortured and killed human rights defenders.
• Moscow will if possible save the Ingush muftiate from abolition to avoid setting a precedent for other Muslim areas.
• Ingushetia's tumultuous Muslim scene leaves little space for Islamic State.