Russian president reacts to Ingush protests for the first time

Ten days after the start of protests, the head of Ingushetia, Yunus-Bek Evkurov, discussed the situation with the Russian president. Vladimir Putin advised not to disperse the rally.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that since October 4, in Magas, the capital of Ingushetia, an action is held against the fixing of a new administrative border with Chechnya.

Mr Putin warned the Ingush leader against violent dispersal of the rally, and advised to peacefully negotiate with protesters, Mr Evkurov told on air of the "Echo Moskvy" Radio.

According to Evkurov, Putin also asked about "the option of taking people away from the squares." The president recommended not to take "any force actions" and "talk to people by democratic methods," the TASS reports.

Activists continue their speeches at the venue in Magas. The conditions for the protesters' stay in the square are acceptable – there are no threats, even at night; and there were no incidents, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed.

Khadizhat Malsagova, 65, said that elderly protesters did not feel any fear even against rumours about the prepared violent dispersal of the rally.

"At the beginning, they said that Russian troops were moving to disperse the rally with truncheons, it was a false alarm," she said.