News AP News Protests erupt over border deal in Russia's North Caucasus

Protests erupt over border deal in Russia's North Caucasus

Protesters rallied in Russia's North Caucasus over authorities' decision to trade a piece of land with the neighboring region

Protests erupt over border deal in Russia's North Caucasus Image Source : APProtests erupt over border deal in Russia's North Caucasus

MOSCOW (AP) — Two regions in Russia's North Caucasus have signed a land swap deal, triggering protests.

About 100 people rallied on Wednesday in the capital of Ingushetia against authorities' decision to exchange a piece of land for one in neighboring Chechnya.

Local police in the city of Magas said on Wednesday that they had to disperse an unsanctioned rally of 100 people there, and local media reported that police charged at the protesters with batons.

The Leaders of Chechnya and Ingushetia signed an agreement on Wednesday to swap what they described as small plots of agricultural land. Ingush leader Yunus-Bek Yevkurov told the Tass news agency that the protesters' fears that Ingushetia would be giving away inhabited land to Chechnya were unfounded.

Disclaimer: This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Associated Press (AP) wire.