Nevertheless, Ingushetia continues to face dire circumstances, and the situation is likely to deteriorate in the coming weeks. The plotted assassination of president Yunnus-Bek Yevkurov last Monday has left him in a critical condition. As a result, political events have unfolded quickly. Just yesterday Chechen president Ramzan Kadirov announced his intention to garner control over the Ingush Republic. This is happening despite the existence of an acting president, who's awaiting the return of Yevkurov.

If Kadirov´s intentions are proved to be ulterior, the situation in Ingushetia could turn sour. Both presidents of Chechnya and Ingushetia have different approaches to challenging the pro-independence movements. Pilar Bonet of El País newspaper states that while "the Chechen president believes in exterminating the guerrilla fighters" his Ingush counterpart "seeks to dissuade the youth from joining such militarized groups". Kadirov is willing to use his vast tools at his disposal to prevent warfare. This tactics include kidnapping of guerrilla fighters and the destruction of the guerrilla's homes. These coercive measures have failed to quell the rebellion, and have instead created large groups of refugees fleeing into Northern Caucasus Republics like Ingushetia and Dagestan.

Since the takeover of Yevkurov from Murat Ziazikov last October, there have been significant strides in taming corruption and reducing levels of violence. Yevkurov had successfully created a politically stable Republic. However, during his tenure he made a lot of enemies, namely those that benefited from the previously corrupt regime.

Due to Yevkurov´s critical condition, some observers fear that Kadirov will seek to benefit from his absence, and perhaps even assume control of Ingushetia. Kadirov himself points out that he garners support from Russian Federation President Dmitri Medvedev. Kadirov argues that Medvedev supports his aims in controlling the Yekurov military. On the other hand, Ingush PM, Rashid Gaysanov, has warned that he is the main ruler of the Republic, and that Kadirov´s role is solely in supervising police operations along the border, RFL/RL reports. In addition, one must keep in mind the internal struggle within Ingushetia, where former President Ruslan Aushev (ruled from 1992-2001), has already claimed control over Yunnus-Bek Yevkurov´s position.

Further information:

• Reuters: Russia's Kadyrov vows revenge for Ingushetia bombing
• Kavkazcenter.com: Radio Liberty: Attack on Yevkurov is a year of offensive of Caucasian rebels
• Nationalia:Peoples and Nations today: Ingushetia