That time I was cornered into watching MMA with a war criminal
In this week's Office Hours, I look back on more of the more absurd tales from my time in Russia.
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Q: Hey Karim, I’ve seen you reflect on your time in Russia in some of your interviews and newsletters and was wondering if you had any more stories to share that you haven’t told before?
A: There are plenty of stories from my time in Russia that I keep close to my chest. There was the time I debated an ex-KGB officer on global politics while going shot-for-shot in a hotel room in St. Petersburg; the time I attended an oligarch’s raunchy birthday party on the River Neva; or the time I climbed to the top of the Olympic Rings in a drunken haze.
Today, however, I want to share a story about the time I ended up being cornered into watching part of an MMA event with Yunus-bek Yevkurov, who at the time was president of the Russian republic of Ingushetia.
My encounter with Yevkurov took place during a particularly memorable trip to Sochi in October 2015—a trip that began with FSB agents boarding my flight as it touched down in the coastal town. To my surprise, one of the agents instructed all passengers to remain seated while his colleague meticulously filmed each of us with a camcorder. It wasn't until later that I discovered the reason behind these heightened security measures: Vladimir Putin and his inner circle of oligarchs had chosen Sochi as the venue to celebrate the Russian leader's 63rd birthday.
Putin, who had not been back in Sochi since the 2014 Winter Olympics, was also there to attend the 2015 Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix. The race happened to take place next door to where Russian fight league M-1 Global was hosting its latest MMA event. I remember hearing the roar of the race cars as they bolted around the bend of the track, and could even spot the blurs zooming by when I climbed onto the bleachers on the left side of the outdoor arena.
While there were rumours going around that Putin might show up at the M-1 show, he never did. Instead, the guest of honour was Yevkurov, who was no stranger to MMA or to utilizing the sport for political gain.
Yevkurov was appointed third President of Ingushetia by the Kremlin in October 2008. At the time, the southern Russian republic was subject to regular attacks from Islamic militants, and political violence between various clans. Yevkurov’s predecessor, Murat Zyazikov, was accused of widespread corruption and had proven incapable of dealing with the growing wave of insurgency within the republic. Yevkurov, on the other hand, was able to crack down on corruption within his government. Though an attempt on his life was made in 2009, Yevkurov has managed to dramatically decrease the number of attacks and the overall level of violence in the republic.
Yevkurov also attempted to divert Ingush youth away from a potential life of insurgency and towards sports and the disciplined lifestyle that accompanies them. Among his initiatives was to sponsor M-1 Global events in Ingushetia.
The first such event took place in June 2012 and quickly evolved into an annual partnership between M-1 Global and the Ingush government, each year drawing an even greater attendance from the local population and furthering Yevkurov’s goal of sports socialization. However, this also made it a target for insurgents.
In June 2014, a suicide bomber was arrested by security forces in Ingushetia for planning an attack on the M-1 Challenge 49: “Battle in the Mountains 3” event. The event ended up drawing 23, 255 fans — a record attendance for an MMA event in Russia that even the inaugural UFC show in Moscow was unable to top.
Over the next few years, the M-1’s MMA events in Ingushetia became a staple of the government’s sports socialization program, as well as an opportunity to provide the illusion of a peaceful and flourishing republic.
“This event was to boost the development of the tourism industry’, Yevkurov said in a prepared statement during the 2015 edition of the ‘M-1: Battle of the Mountains’ event. ‘We want to present Ingushetia as a safe and peaceful republic, where one can hold such large-scale events. We wanted to show the traditions and culture of our people and the beauty of our beloved country. I think that we have succeeded.”
Although Yevkurov seldom made appearances at M-1 events beyond Ingushetia, his presence in Sochi was due to the fact that one of the republic’s esteemed stars, Adam Yandiev, was scheduled to compete on the show. He arrived at the arena accompanied by a retinue of loyal followers and embarked on a tour the facility. As fate would have it, his path led him to the broadcast booth where I was preparing to provide commentary for the fights, alongside the renowned UFC pioneer Ian Freeman.
With tired eyes and a prominent, thick black moustache, the Ingush president extended his hand in greeting and, upon realizing that I was not Russian, began searching for a way to communicate effectively. Suddenly, a word escaped his lips that resonated with me, "мусульманин"—Muslim. Realizing his inquiry about my religious affiliation, I responded with a simple "да" (yes). His astonishment was palpable and he took hold of my hand, leading me back to his group. Introducing me to each member in succession, he proudly announced, "мусульманин.” Despite all of them being Muslims themselves, they celebrated my presence as though I were the first of my kind. Evidently, there weren’t many of us around.
In a sudden whirlwind of events, Yevkurov guided me to prime seats in the front row and seated me next to him. Despite my attempts to convey that I was meant to be providing commentary for those specific fights, I found myself sandwiched between the president and his loyal associates throughout the entire opening bout. It wasn't until some time later that I managed to mime an explanation for my departure, and escaped back to my broadcast seat beside Freeman. Initially furious, Freeman eventually burst into laughter, recognizing the sheer absurdity of the circumstances. I vividly recall him saying, "Only in Russia."
Though this tale may appear as nothing more than an amusing anecdote from my experiences in Russia, several intriguing developments have since transpired, prompting me to reassess the significance of that particular incident.
In June 2019, under the weight of mounting public protests following a contentious land demarcation plan with neighboring Chechnya, Yevkurov stepped down as the president of Ingushetia. However, less than one month later, he resurfaced in a surprising new role, appointed by Putin himself as the deputy minister of defense—a role he continues to maintain during the course of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
There was once a time when I would tell this story to friends and frame it in the context of one of many eccentric characters that I encountered in Russia. Yet, today, the narrative is far more significant: the interchangeable nature of Russian politicians, their penchant for leveraging combat sports as a means of political advantage, and the pivotal role these individuals can assume in the realm of geopolitical affairs, particularly during times of conflict.
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What a strange and wild story. Any chance you can also share the one about going shot-for-shot with the ex-KGB officer?