Russian Public Chamber offers help in settling conflict of two Dagestani villages

The Working Group of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation for development of public dialogue and civil society institutes in the Caucasus has expressed its readiness to mediate the conflict between the villages of Gimry and Untsukul in the Republic of Dagestan.

Let us remind you that on August 9 a quarrel burst out between residents of Gimry and Untsukul, which turned into a skirmish with use of firearms.

"The new history of Northern Caucasus and Dagestan has not known such really shocking incidents. The fight of two villages in the birthplace of two greatest sons of Dagestan – Imam Gazi-Muhammad and Imam Shamil – ended in death of 7 persons. A child – a girl of two – was assassinated together with her father, who came with the girl to visit his wife at hospital after delivery," runs the statement of Maxim Shevchenko, the head of the above Working Group.

The public activist has treated the massacre that took place during the sacred Muslim month of Ramadan as an alarming signal.

The Working Group has addressed the local authorities, law enforcers, elders, leaders of mountain clans and religious figures with a call "to use all the instruments existing in the legislation and traditions of the Caucasus and Islam for settling the growing conflicts."

Besides, the Group has stated its readiness to act as a mediator in the conflict.
Earlier, a call to residents of Gimry and Untsukul to stop the enmity was made by Akhmat-Hadji Abdullaev, the head of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Dagestan. On his proposal a commission was set up of republic's religious figures with the aim to hold an independent inquiry and assess the incident from the Shariat viewpoint.