INGUSH HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS SEEK ATTENTION FOR

UNCLAS BRUSSELS 001501 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR EUR/WE, EUR/RUS, EUR/CARC AND DRL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM RU BE GG SUBJECT: INGUSH HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS SEEK ATTENTION FOR VIOLATIONS IN INGUSHETIA ¶1. (SBU) Summary: On September 24, Poloff met with two Ingush human rights activists, Ibragim Muharbekovich Lianov and Alik Osdoev. They described human rights violations in Ingushetia since 1992. They said that Russia intends to abolish the Republic of Ingushetia and merge it with Chechnya in October ¶2008. They predict disruptions of the 2014 Olympics in Sochi if the human rights situation in Ingushetia does not improve. Lianov's and Osdoev's visit is evidence that Russia's actions in the South Caucasus are noticed and are having repercussions in the highly volatile North Caucasus. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) Lianov said that he is a member of the Ingush branch of the International Historical-Enlightenment, Human Rights and Humanitarian Society Memorial, located in Karabulak City in Ingushetia. Lianov and Osdoev are currently living in Brussels, however, and are trying to bring human rights violations in Ingushetia to public attention. They have held meetings with the European Commission. Lianov said he is a former sports teacher in Ingushetia and Osdoev said he is an auto body repairman. They did not explain how they were supporting themselves in Brussels. ¶2. (U) Lianov showed pictures of himself and Osdoev with journalist Magomed Yevloyev at a demonstration they jointly organized in Brussels for Ingush human rights on August 26. Yevloyev was murdered on August 31 in Ingushetia, shortly after he returned from Brussels. Lianov also showed Poloff a list of persons who have disappeared in Ingushetia, most of whom were ordinary citizens, he said. He provided a pamphlet, published by Memorial in 1996, describing "Mass Violations of the Rights of Citizens of Ingush Nationality" in Russia from 1992-1996. The Russian government is committing, or tolerating, killings and other repression of the Ingush, he said. Lianov said that the Ingush do not seek independence from Russia, but simply wish to be able to live their lives in peace. He contrasted Russia's solicitous attitude toward South Ossetians and Abkhaz to its poor treatment of the Ingush minority within its own borders. ¶3. (SBU) Lianov said that there are 70,000 refugees from North Ossetia in Ingushetia, who were forced out when North Ossetia asserted control over Ingush-inhabited areas. Now, he says, Russia intends to abolish the Republic of Ingushetia and merge it with neighboring Chechnya, ruled by Russia's puppet, Kadirov. It is this prospect that has pushed Lianov into politics at this time. Lianov said that if Russia does not begin to improve its treatment of the Ingush, Ingush activists will likely cause disruptions of the 2014 Olympic games in Sochi. ¶4. (U) Lianov provided Poloff with the above-mentioned pamphlet, a copy of a letter to Ambassador Fox sent in March 2008 and a DVD documentary about Ingush human rights issues. Post will forward them to DRL for possible use in the next human rights report on Russia. FOX .