The North Caucasus has traditionally been the hottest region in Russia, its natural southern border. Many different peoples live side by side in this region. This is the region where the clash of Islamic and Christian civilizations takes place.
Ossetian-Ingush conflict
The North Caucasus is in relative calm today. But several ethnic conflicts are in the smoldering phase. The most famous is the Ossetian-Ingush conflict. In 1991, the Ingush who lived on the territory of the Prigorodny district of North Ossetia made an attempt to seize the territories with their subsequent annexation to Ingushetia. But they were stopped by the Ossetian militia and federal troops. The Ingush do not abandon the idea of expanding living space and constantly say that they will certainly give revenge to the Ossetians.
The Ingush are officially ready to support any political force that promises to review the results of the Ossetian-Ingush conflict. Another example: almost all the militants who captured the school in Beslan were ethnic Ingush.
The situation is complicated by the fact that the Ingush are fanatical Muslims, and Ossetians, while maintaining traditional beliefs, gravitate towards Christianity. As a result, ethnic conflict takes on a religious character.
Circassian Question
The second unresolved issue is the unclear position of the Circassians. Today, the Circassians are fragmented between four regions of the Russian Federation - Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, Adygea and the Krasnodar Territory.
Adygei is the self-name of this people. Circassians - this is how the Circassians called the Russians. At present, the descendants of the Circassians are, in fact, Circassians, Kabardins and Circassians, divided by region.
Historically, the capital of the Circassians and the site of the last battle of the Circassian tribes with Tsarist Russia is the city of Krasnaya Polyana, a modern ski resort where the 22nd Winter Olympics takes place. Circassian activists today are being persecuted by the authorities, who make it clear that there will be no revision of the Circassian issue. The conflict here has a pronounced anti-Russian character.
