BESLAN TRAGEDY: PEOPLE'S ATTITUDES

After 15 years of “depression”, people of Kabardino-Balkaria long for change

(Caucasus Times) - From September 17 to 19, 2005, the Caucasus Times conducted a brief survey in Nalchik, capital of Kabardino-Balkaria, of 109 women and 91 men ranging from 16 to 65 years of age.

The results indicated a high degree of dissatisfaction among the population with the socio-economic situation in the republic. Namely, disparity among various ethnic groups to social and political processes; lack of opportunity to elect a republic head by a nationwide vote; and increasing pessimism about the cancelled elections for regional leaders who will now be directly appointed by the Kremlin.

The survey also indicated that a significant number of people are prepared to stand up for their civil rights by taking part in different forms of public protest.

Thus, 95% of respondents believe that the most acute problems in Kabardino-Balkaria are unemployment, high prices, low wages, corruption, and excessively high fees for housing and communal services. Yet 44% believe that security, i.e.criminal acts and terrorism, is far more serious. It also became apparent that for 6% of the population, inter-faith relations were a major problem. And Balkarians felt this the most. They referred to frequent raids on villages with a Balkarian majority, conducted as part of a federal operation against Islamic extremism. Only 2% (and they were ethnic Russians) said that inter-etnic relations were the main problem. 4% of respondents were unable to answer the question.

As for replacing elections with Kremlin appointments, a majority of the people surveyed do not consider this federal act as having any bearing on the political and socio-economic situation in Kabardino-Balkaria, although they regret not being able to elect their own leaders.

Therefore, 40% felt the cancelled elections would stabilize the situation; 35% said this would have no significant effect at all; 8% said it would aggravate present problems; and 17% had no thoughts, either pro or con, on this subject.

The survey showed that if after 15 years of Valeriy Kokov's tough leadership presidential elections were suddenly announced, people would vote very actively but ethnic intolerance would appear among the multi-cultural population of Kabardino-Balkaria.

In reply to the question "Whom would you prefer as head of the republic?" (a list of candidates was compiled from media publications) 44% voted for Arsen Kanokov, State Duma deputy and Moscow businessman. They were evidently swayed by his financial independence and religious tolerance. (Kanokov sponsored the construction of a mosque in Nalchik and is presently building an Orthodox church.)

11% selected Kabardino-Balkaria's Premier Gennadiy Gubin, seeing him as being "neutral. He was preferred by the Russian-speaking public and the Chechen diaspora.

8% chose Mukharbiy Kumyshev, deputy leader of the Russian FSB in the Astrakhanskaya Oblast region., because they felt the republic needs a "firm hand", particularly in the fight against banditry.

6% voted for Khachim Karmokov, a member of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, whom respondents considered to be a wise and experienced politician, knowing the affairs of the republic very well.

And least of all, 3%, went to Valeriy Kardanov, General Director of the Kabardino-Balkarian Fuel Company.