Ingush elders called the two teips to a peaceful resolution of the dispute over the towers.

The Council of Elders under the head of Ingushetia addressed the Tumgoev and Kodzoev teips, calling for a peaceful resolution to the dispute over the ancestral towers. Residents of Ingushetia, discussing the dispute on social media, expressed concerns that the conflict could escalate and criticized the authorities for inaction amid the disagreements between the teips.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", disputes periodically arise between various teips in Ingushetia over the ancestral towers. Many towers are in need of repair, and there are insufficient budgetary funds for the preservation of monuments, said employees of the Dzheirakh-Assin Museum-Reserve and historians in August. For instance, the "Towers of Two Rivals" complex is threatened with collapse due to the destruction of its rocky foundation: a preservation project is being developed with the support of a charitable foundation, but no budgetary funds have been allocated for inspection and securing protective status, and restoration work is scheduled for 2027. Back in July 2023, members of the Council of Teips called for the preservation of the Magota complex, where a semi-ruined combat tower and remnants of residential towers have survived.

The Council of Elders warned the teips against conflict

The Ministry of Foreign Relations, National Policy, Press and Information of Ingushetia published an address from the Council of Elders under the head of the republic to the Tumgoev and Kodzoev teips on October 18 in its Telegram channel, urging them to resolve the dispute related to the tower complex peacefully.

"We emphasize the importance of constructive dialogue: the parties need to listen to each other, show mutual respect, and not succumb to provocations. Only through measured and thoughtful steps can an agreement be reached that meets the interests of the entire society," the address stated.

The elders addressed the youth separately, urging them to refrain from actions that could lead to a breach of order. "We make a special request to the youth: show prudence and do not engage in actions that could disrupt public order and inter-teip harmony. Remember that the responsibility for the future of the republic lies with each of us," the Council of Elders noted.

Representatives of the Tumgoev teip recorded an address to the Kodzoevs. The video was published on October 19 by the Instagram*-public magas_times_06, which has about 9.3 thousand followers. As of 13:40 MSK on October 19, this video had received 333 likes and 24 comments.

Participants in the discussion expressed concerns about the development of the conflict, demanded a response from the authorities, and called for remembering responsibility. "This situation will end badly. Unfortunately. The Ministry of Nationalities is silent," wrote gru_gry5.

"Two respected teips have stood against each other, ready to take up arms. And these are silent, the imams are silent, the councils of teips and elders are silent. Recently, some reconciliation commission was shown on NTC, everyone is silent! As for the head, I remain silent; there is nothing left but to be silent. I feel that soon passport control will be canceled and a pass regime will be reinstated, then only with passes will they be able to enter the mountains," the moderator of the Instagram*-public magas_times_06 replied.

"There are provocative slogans in this speech; for God's sake, do not succumb to provocation," wrote koloeva62.

"His speech sounds provocative. Dear brothers, be prudent! Do not succumb to provocation!" urged orchidee164.

"What provocation is there? He says: come, let's talk. And this is a response to provocations," replied ibragim8837.

Disputes over ancestral towers have repeatedly led to conflicts between teips

Disputes over ancestral towers in Ingushetia have repeatedly led to clashes between representatives of various teips.

For instance, on August 19, 2023, a mass brawl occurred in the Dzheirakh district between representatives of the Kushtov and Vadelev teips. The closure of access to the tower complex was the cause of the conflict, said a representative of the Vadelevs. According to him, the Vadelevs considered the land to belong to their teip, while the Kushtovs transferred it to a hotel complex under the guise of restoration. A criminal case was initiated against one of the participants in the incident for using violence against a police officer, the investigative department reported.

In January 2021, representatives of the Polonkoevs attempted to organize a meeting with the Evloevs to resolve the conflict, a member of the Council of Teips of Ingushetia, Isa Darsigov, told the correspondent of "Caucasian Knot". According to him, invitations were repeatedly sent, but the meetings did not take place.

This was preceded by a shootout on the night of December 30, 2019: one person was killed, and six others were hospitalized. The cause of the conflict between the Evloevs and Polonkoevs was a dispute over the ownership of the Pyaling tower complex.

In January 2020, the head of the Council of Teips of the Ingush people Murad Daskiev stated that criminals were knocking out arch ceilings in the towers and transporting them to Chechnya for sale. This statement provoked fierce internet discussions between Chechen and Ingush users on YouTube. Doctor of Historical Sciences Hasan Bakaev pointed out that Chechens have no need to export stones with petroglyphs from Ingushetia, as there are many more such petroglyphs in Chechnya itself.