A man pouring vodka in Nazran on Jan. 30. Several places were attacked last year for selling alcohol in the area.
NAZRAN, Ingushetia Republic — A masked guard clad in camouflage pokes his AK-47 assault rifle into the shoulder of a vodka-guzzling client in a hotel bar in Russia's Muslim Ingushetia republic, and orders him to leave immediately.
The state-employed security guard then leads the man and his coterie of quiet revelers out of the dimly lit bar.
"We heard reports rebels are on the prowl again and we want to prevent any damage," said the guard, who wished to remain anonymous.
At least a dozen places selling alcohol in the North Caucasus were attacked with grenades, bombs and gunfire over the last year as armed Islamists bent on installing sharia law have stepped up their battle against those who drink.
Last week saw the latest ...
