BESLAN TRAGEDY: PEOPLE'S ATTITUDES

In September 27-30, 2004, Caucasus Times & Prague Watchdog conducted a survey among inhabitants of Beslan and Vladikavkaz in Northern Ossetia using its correspondent network in the North Caucasus region. 100 men and women (50 in Beslan and 50 in Vladikavkaz) of different ages and occupation were interviewed. Conducting of a survey was complicated by psychological reluctance of a local people to discuss issues related to Beslan tragedy.

Survey results showed widespread feelings of dissatisfaction and disappointment of the local population by both local and central authorities as well as their highly critical approach towards the behavior of the authorities during Beslan tragedy.

Thus, overwhelming majority of the respondents (75%) thought that behavior of both local and federal authorities represent the main reason for Beslan tragedy. More specifically, 41% indicated policy of federal center in Caucasus as a main reason for Beslan tragedy while 34% of respondents thought the main reason was in negligence of the local authorities. Considerable number of respondents (19%) connected the main reason for Beslan tragedy with the war in Chechnya.

66% of those interviewed proved to be very critical in their evaluation of the authorities' actions during Beslan tragedy, describing those as "a complete failure". 22% thought authorities were unprofessional and 11% - not enough rapid and resolute.

As far as security situation in the North Caucasus is concerned, popular expectations are very pessimistic. Almost all respondents (92%) expect turn for the worse in terms of security in the nearest future while only 8% predicted it would stay at the same level.

GROZNY INHABITANTS REACTIONS TO MASKHADOV'S DEATH: ANXIETY AND PESSIMISM

Results of a sociological survey conducted among the people of Grozny aged 16 and over by the Czech-based Internet news agencies, Caucasus Times and Prague Watchdog, on March 11-15, 2005 showed that for a vast majority the expected consequences from the death of Chechen resistance leader and Ichkerian President Aslan Maskhadov are a source of anxiety and pessimism in that further escalation of violence in Chechnya is possible.

According to the results, 75% of respondents think that Maskhadov’s death will result in an "outburst of violence" in Chechnya, whereas only 4% believe it raises hopes for a decrease in violence.

In response to the question about how Maskhadov's death will impact on the Chechen resistance, 49% said it will "boost the positions of the radicals." Only 8% think that the incident will "split the resistance", while 5% feel it will "weaken the resistance as a whole." A large part of those interviewed (38 %) refused to answer the question. Mostly women were unable to take a position on this issue.

Among the most effective measures mentioned that would enable stopping the war was "the withdrawal of Russian troops from Chechnya" (43%); "the presence of UN peacekeepers in Chechnya" (42%); "fighting the resistance leaders" (33%); and "holding talks with the resistance leaders" (31%).

A large majority of respondents (93 %) indicated that the main reason for the ongoing war was "military operations." However, a considerable number think that the main reason is "guerrilla operations" (32 %) and "social and economic problems" (29 %).