Russian President Dmitry Medvedev dismissed Murat Zyazikov as president of the North Caucasus republic of Ingushetia. Pictured: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (r) meeting Ihgushetya President Murat Zyazikov (l) at his residence in Sochi. Zyazikov, 51, a former KGB officer and a close ally of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, has served as president of the troubled region, which neighbors with Chechnya, since 2002.