On October 25, Maksharip Aushev, an Ingush businessman and civil opposition leader, was murdered by unknown gunmen who sprayed his car with more than 60 bullets.

Shortly before his death, filmmakers Dom Rotheroe and Antony Butts spoke with him for theirfilm on the conflict in the Russian republic of Ingushetia.

Recently, the Russian republic of Ingushetia has become the most dangerous place in the Russian federation. Endemic corruption combined with a battle between Islamic extremists and unaccountable Moscow-backed security forces has plunged the area into violence.

The conflict has left many Ingushetians in despair; their human rights suppressed and their faith in the authorities in tatters. It is a cycle of bloody atrocity and counter-atrocity that seems to have no end. 

While the Ingush stayed out of the Chechens' recent wars for independence from Russia, this did not prevent the violence from finally spilling over.

In June 2004, ...

WebsiteIngushetiyaru.Orgaccording to a relise of a former anti-Zyazikov opposition leader Magomed Hazbiev (not to be confused with pro-Yevkurov website Ingushetia.org), published the letter of Maksherip Aushev who was killed two days ago in Nalchik, in which he accuses the pro-Moscow puppet leader Yevkurov in promoting terrorism against the civilians.

In this letter, dated April 2009, M. Aushev warned that in case of his death, the guilty will be Yevkurov and Russia's security services.

Maksherip Aushev wrote -

"Since the appointment of Yunus-Bek Yevkurov as president of Ingushetia, I, my associates and relatives had given him every assistance to achieve peace and harmony in our country.

I initiated the dissolution of an alternative parliament, made a public statement on supporting Yevkurov. We are representatives of Aushev teip were the first to organize a meeting and ...