European Forum

Russian federal judge shot dead in North Caucasus

Local authorities reported on 8 September that a Russian federal district court judge was shot dead in the village of Baksanenok, in the North Caucasus republic Kabardino-Balkaria of Russia. Dzhulber Bykov was ambushed in his car outside his home in the evening of 7 September. The assassination is alleged to be connected to the judge’s professional duties. The gunmen have neither been found nor identified.

Previously, In July, in Kabardino-Balkaria, two people were killed when a hydroelectric power plant was burst and set on fire by militants. In August, Russian security forces killed five militants holed up in an apartment building in Nalchik, the province capital of Kabardino-Balkaria. In October 2005 Chechen rebel leader Basayev carried out an attack on police and government buildings, turning Nalchik into a battlefield for one day and killing many rebels, members of the security force and civilians.

The Kremlin is combating a growing Islamic insurgency in the North Caucasus. Attacks on government officials occur frequently in the republics of Chechnya, Ingushetia and Dagestan. The latter republic that is bordered on its eastern side by the Caspian Sea, has been the worst-hit by violence in the area recently. But Kabardino-Balkaria lies only 50 km west from the war-torn Chechnya, and the violence is spreading. The murdering of the federal judge in Kabardino-Balkaria testifies to the increased violence in neighbouring regions. Russian leaders have acknowledged the need for investment in the North Caucasus region. According to Human Rights activists the predominant Muslim youth is driven to violence extremism by poverty, corruption and the harsh conduct by government officials. In Kabardino-Balkaria living standards are low, unemployment is high, corruption is rife.

Sources: Alertnet; Kavkazcenter; BBC (image)