Dokument #1315127
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Autor)
During the Second World War the Ingush and
Cechens were deported in toto from Cechen-Ingushetia in
punishment for what Soviet leader Stalin suspected was their
collaboration with invading German forces. In addition, the
Prigorodnyi raion (district) in Cechen-Ingushetia, bordering
what is now the North Ossetian capital of Vladikavkaz (formerly
Ordzhonikidze), was transferred to North Ossetia (Human Rights
Watch Dec. 1992, 234; Helsinki Watch Sept. 1991, 21-23, 47, 49;
Radio Liberty 26 Apr. 1991, 16).
In 1992 fighting between Ingush and
Ossetians in the Prigorodnyi raion broke out in October. On
23 October a clash between Ossetian police and Ingush villagers
left six people, including two policemen, dead (Interfax 29 Oct.
1992). On 31 October the conflict escalated, involving Ingush and
Ossetian paramilitary formations vying for control of the
raion (Human Rights Watch Dec. 1992, 234; Russian Television
Network 31 Oct. 1992).
Although a ceasefire was declared on 1
November 1992, fighting continued (Human Rights Watch Dec. 1992,
234; Interfax 4 Nov. 1992). On 2 November, President Boris Yeltsin
decreed a one-month state of emergency throughout North Ossetia and
Ingushetia and established a federal "interim administration" which
assumed "direct control" of "North Ossetian SSR executive organs"
(Rossiyskaya Gazeta 4 Nov. 1992; Helsinki Watch Dec. 1992,
234). By 6 November about 10,000 Russian army and interior ministry
troops had arrived to enforce the state of emergency (Human Rights
Watch Dec. 1992, 234; RFE/RL 20 Nov. 1992, 49).
The fighting in the Prigorodnyi
raion was marked by subsequent reports of human rights
violations, including disappearances, torture and excessive use of
force by Russian and North Ossetian irregular forces (Country
Reports 1992 1993, 885-86, 888). Estimates of the casualties
vary widely. According to one report, "reliable sources in the area
confirmed that violations of humanitarian conventions occurred, but
noted that while the Russian Government's official initial report
of 261 fatalities was probably too low, Ingush claims were probably
exaggerated" (ibid., 888). Ingush sources alleged that Russian
troops aided Ossetian forces in attacks on and forced displacement
of Ingush in the raion (ibid.; Human Rights Watch Dec. 1992,
234).
For additional information on the
background to the current conflict, please refer to the attached
excerpts from Helsinki Watch and Human Rights Watch and to
Country Reports 1992 (p. 888), which is available in your
Regional Documentation Centre.
The state of emergency declared in early
November 1992 has been continually renewed by Russian presidential
decrees, most recently for the period 31 March-31 May 1994
(Interfax 31 Jan. 1994; RFE/RL 31 Jan.-4 Feb. 1994, 3; ibid. 26
July-6 Aug. 1993, 3; ITAR-TASS 4 Apr. 1994; ibid. 28 Mar. 1993). As
part of the first extension in late March 1993, the area covered by
the state of emergency was reduced to "the territories of part of
Prigorodnyy rayon and adjacent localities of [North Ossetia]
and of part of Nazranskiy [sic] rayon" of Ingushetia (ibid.;
ibid., 10 Apr. 1993). Within North Ossetia, the zone currently
covered by the state of emergency consists of sections of
Mosdokskiy, Provoberezhniy and Prigorodnyi raions, as well
as parts of Vladikavkaz. In Ingushetia it encompasses the
raions of Nazranovskiy and Malgobekskiy (ibid., 4 Apr.
1994).
The issue of persons displaced by the 1992
fighting has been central in negotiations between the governments
of North Ossetia and Ingushetia (RFE/RL 5-8 Apr. 1994, 1; ITAR-TASS
28 Feb. 1994). By the end of 1992, about 40,000 Ingush had
reportedly been displaced from the Prigorodnyi raion and the
Ingush capital of Nazran was said to be "overflowing with refugees"
(Human Rights Watch Dec. 1992, 234). Reports in 1993 indicated that
by December of that year, the total number of displaced persons
from the region was 65,000 (ibid. Dec. 1993, 233; RFE/RL 30 Aug.-3
Sept. 1993, 2).
On 13 December 1993, President Yeltsin
signed a decree ordering that the return of Ingush displaced
persons to four villages in Prigorodnyi begin by the end of the
year (RFE/RL 11-24 Dec. 1993b, 2; ibid., 6-10 Dec. 1993, 2). North
Ossetians staged protests against the move in the raion
before and immediately after the decree was announced (ibid.; ibid.
11-24 Dec. 1993a, 3).
In early April 1994 the presidents of
Ingushetia and North Ossetia began a round of talks on implementing
the decree, but on 12 April a group of 66 displaced Ingush were
prevented from returning to Prigorodnyi (RFE/RL 5-8 Apr. 1994, 1;
ibid. 11-15 Apr. 1994b, 4). "Little progress" was made on resolving
differences over the issue of displaced persons when the presidents
met on 14 April (ibid., 11-15 Apr. 1994a, 5).
There have been other indicators of
continuing ethnic tensions in Priogorodnyi raion. At the end
of 1993 a number of Ingush villages in North Ossetia "remained
basically in a state of blockade, relying heavily on accompaniment
by Russian Interior Ministry troops or international relief
organizations to travel to Ingushetia for supplies" (Human Rights
Watch Dec. 1993, 233). Also in 1993, the North Ossetian government
reportedly decreed that "Ossetians and Ingush could not live
peacefully together" (ibid.).
This response was prepared after
researching publicly accessible information currently available to
the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does
not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular
claim to refugee status or asylum.
Country Reports in Human Rights
Practices for 1992. 1993. United States Department of State.
Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.
Helsinki Watch. September 1991.
"Punished Peoples" of the Soviet Union: The Continuing Legacy of
Stalin's Deportations. New York: Human Rights Watch.
Human Rights Watch. December 1993.
Human Rights Watch World Report 1994. New York: Human Rights
Watch.
____. December 1992. Human Rights
Watch World Report 1993. New York: Human Rights Watch.
Interfax [Moscow, in English]. 31
January 1994. "Ingush, North Ossetian Presidents on Edict."
(FBIS-SOV-94-021 1 Feb. 1994, p. 36)
____. 4 November 1992. "Fighting
Situation Updated." (FBIS-SOV-92-214 4 Nov. 1992, p. 21)
____. 29 October 1992. "North Ossetia
Decides Not to Use Force Against Ingushes." (FBIS-SOV-92-211 30
Oct. 1992, p. 51)
ITAR-TASS [Moscow, in Russian]. 4 April
1994. "Yeltsin Edict on Emergency." (FBIS-SOV-94-065 5 Apr. 1994,
pp. 24-26)
____. 28 February 1994. 28 February
1994. "Federation Council Commission on Ossetian Situation."
(FBIS-SOV-94-039 28 Feb. 1994, p. 63)
____. 10 April 1993. "Latest Situation
in North Ossetia Reported." (FBIS-SOV-93-069 13 Apr. 1993, p.
50)
____. 28 March 1993. "State of Emergency
Imposed in North Ossetia, Ingushetia." (FBIS-SOV-93-058 29 Mar.
1993, p. 87)
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
(RFE/RL). 11-15 Apr. 1994a. RFE/RL News Briefs. Vol. 3, No.
16. Ann Sheehy. "Little Progress at North Ossetian-Ingush
Talks."
____. 11-15 April 1994b. RFE/RL News
Briefs [Munich]. Vol. 3, No. 16. Ann Sheehy. "North Ossetians
Take Ingush Hostages."
____. 5-8 April 1994. RFE/RL News
Briefs [Munich]. Vol. 3, No. 15. Ann Sheehy. "North
Ossetian-Ingush Talks."
____. 31 January-4 February 1994.
RFE/RL News Briefs [Munich]. Vol. 3, No. 6. Ann Sheehy.
"State of Emergency Prolonged in North Ossetia/Ingushetia."
____. 11-24 December 1993a. RFE/RL
News Briefs [Munich]. Vol. 3, No. 2. Ann Sheehy. "North
Ossetian Reaction to Yeltsin's Decree on Ingush Refugees."
____. 11-24 December 1993b. RFE/RL
News Briefs [Munich]. Vol. 3, No. 2. Ann Sheehy. "Yeltsin
Issues Decree on Ingush Refugees."
____. 6-10 December 1993. RFE/RL News
Briefs [Munich]. Vol. 2, No. 50. Ann Sheehy. "Yeltsin to Issue
Decree on North Ossetia/Ingushetia."
____. 30 August-3 September 1993.
RFE/RL News Briefs [Munich]. Vol. 2, No. 36. Ann Sheehy.
"Ingushetia to Hold Referendum on Leaving Russia?"
____. 26 July-3 August 1993. RFE/RL
News Briefs [Munich]. Vol. 2, No. 32. Ann Sheehy. "Yeltsin
Extends State of Emergency in North Ossetia, Ingushetia."
____. 20 November 1992. RFE/RL
Research Report. Vol. 1, No. 46. "Military and Security
Notes."
Radio Liberty. 26 April 1991. Report
on the USSR [Munich]. Vol. 3, No. 17. Vera Tolz. "New
Information about the Deportation of Ethnic Groups under
Stalin."
Rossiyskaya Gazeta [Moscow, in
Russian]. 4 November 1992. "Edict on State of Emergency."
(FBIS-SOV-92-214 4 Nov. 1992, p. 21-22)
Russian Television Network [Moscow, in
Russian]. 31 October 1992. "Security Council Meets on 'Civil War'."
(FBIS-SOV-92-212 2 Nov. 1992, p. 22)
Helsinki Watch. September 1991.
"Punished Peoples" of the Soviet Union: The Continuing Legacy of
Stalin's Deportations. New York: Human Rights Watch, pp. 7,
21-22, 47-50.
Human Rights Watch. December 1992.
Human Rights Watch World Report 1993. 1993. New York: Human
Rights Watch.
Interfax [Moscow, in English]. 15
November 1992. "Gunfire, Attacks Reported in N. Ossetia."
(FBIS-SOV-92-221 16 Nov. 1992, p. 45)
_____. 15 November 1992. "Ossetians
Accused of Moving Refugees." (FBIS-SOV-92-221 16 Nov. 1992, pp.
44-45)
_____. 14 November 1992. "Ingush
Casualties Mount." (FBIS-SOV-92-221 16 Nov. 1992, p. 44)
_____. 9 November 1992. "Ingush Armed
Formations Said Retreating." (FBIS-SOV-92-218 10 Nov. 1992, p.
27)
_____. 5 November 1992. "Two Ingush
Settlements Occupied." (FBIS-SOV-92-215 5 Nov. 1992, p. 39)
_____. 4 November 1992. "INTERFAX
Updates Situation." (FBIS-SOV-92-215 5 Nov. 1992, pp. 37-38)
_____. 4 November 1992. "Fighting
Situation Updated." (FBIS-SOV-92-214 4 Nov. 1992, p. 21)
_____. 2 November 1992. "Powers of
Interim Administration Noted." (FBIS-SOV-92-213 3 Nov. 1992, p.
25)
_____. 31 October 1992. "N. Ossetians
Urged to Oppose 'Extremists'." (FBIS-SOV-92-212 2 Nov. 1992, p.
22)
_____. 29 October 1992. "North Ossetia
Decides Not to Use Force Against Ingushes." (FBIS-SOV-92-211 30
Oct. 1992, p. 51)
ITAR-TASS [Moscow, in English]. 4 April
1994. "Yeltsin Edict on Emergency." (FBIS-SOV-94-065 5 Apr. 1994,
pp. 24-26)
_____. "Peacekeeping Forces Keep North
Ossetia Calm." (FBIS-SOV-94-038 25 Feb. 1994, p. 27)
_____. 8 December 1992. "Statistics
Reveal Cost of Ingushetia-Ossetia Conflict." (FBIS-SOV-92-237 9
Dec. 1992, p. 23)
_____. 2 December 1992. "Troops Under
Fire in North Ossetia." (FBIS-SOV-92-233 3 Dec. 1992, p. 18)
_____. 10 November 1992. "Ingushes Will
Not Rule Out Guerilla Tactics." (FBIS-SOV-92-219 12 Nov. 1992, p.
46)
_____. 5 November 1992. "Cease-Fire
Observed; 'Hostages' Exchanged." (FBIS-SOV-92-215 5 Nov. 1992, pp.
38-39)
_____. 3 November 1992. "Situation
Stabilized; Newsman Released." (FBIS-SOV-92-213 3 Nov. 1992, p.
31)
_____. 2 November 1992. "Ingush Said
Driven Out of Oktyabrskoe." (FBIS-SOV-92-213 3 Nov. 1992, p.
28)
_____. 2 November 1992. "Yeltsin
Introduces State of Emergency." (FBIS-SOV-92-212 2 Nov. 1992, p.
27)
_____. 2 November 1992. "Fighting on
Night of 1 Nov Noted." (FBIS-SOV-92-212 2 Nov. 1992, p. 26)
_____. 1 November 1992. "Cease-Fire
Accord Reached." (FBIS-SOV-92-212 2 Nov. 1992, p. 25)
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
(RFE/RL). 11-15 Apr. 1994. RFE/RL News Briefs [Munich]. Vol.
3, No. 16. Ann Sheehy. "Little Progress at North Ossetian-Ingush
Talks, p. 5."
_____. 11-15 April 1994. RFE/RL News
Briefs [Munich]. Vol. 3, No. 16. Ann Sheehy. "North Ossetians
Take Ingush Hostages," p. 4.
_____. 5-8 April 1994. RFE/RL News
Briefs [Munich]. Vol. 3, No. 15. Ann Sheehy. "North
Ossetian-Ingush Talks," p. 1.
_____. 13-17 September 1993. RFE/RL
News Briefs [Munich]. Vol. 2, No. 38. Ann Sheehy. "Security
Council Discusses North Ossetia, Ingushetia," pp. 5-6.
_____. 26 July-6 August 1993. RFE/RL
News Briefs [Munich]. Vol. 2, No. 32. Ann Sheehy. "Head of
Interim Administration in North Ossetia and Ingushetia
Assassinated," pp. 4-5.
_____. 14 May 1993. RFE/RL Research
Report [Munich]. Vol. 2, No. 20. Ann Sheehy. "Russia's
Republics: A Threat to Its Territorial Integrity?" pp. 34-35,
38.
_____. 10-23 December 1992. RFE/RL
News Briefs [Munich]. Vol. 2, No. 2. Vera Tolz. "Censorship of
Russian Media on Ingush-Ossetian Conflict," p. 3.
_____. 27 November 1992. RFE/RL
Research Report [Munich]. Vol. 1, No. 47. "Weekly Review," p.
69
Radio Liberty. 26 April 1991. Report
on the USSR [Munich]. Vol. 3, No. 17. Vera Tolz. "New
Information about the Deportation of Ethnic Groups under Stalin,"
pp. 16, 19.
Radio Rossii Network [Moscow, in
Russian]. 1 November 1992. "Paratroops Arrive; Platoon Disarmed."
(FBIS-SOV-92-212 2 Nov. 1992, p. 24)
_____. 31 October 1992. "3,000 OMON
Personnel Arrive." (FBIS-SOV-92-212 2 Nov. 1992, p. 22)
Segodnya [Moscow, in Russian]. 26
February 1994. "Ossetian President Rejects Federal Rule Idea."
(FBIS-SOV-94-039 28 Feb. 1994, p. 68)