Ingush authorities offer refugees to rent housing; migrants complain of pressure

As reported by refugees from North Ossetia and Chechnya, on September 24, in the village of Ali-Yurt in Ingushetia, an attempt was made to force them out from a temporary accommodation centre (TAC). Under the order of the Ingush leader Yunus-Bek Evkurov, the internally displaced persons (IDPs) should move out of their adapted premises before September 30. The republic's authorities promise to pay 5000 roubles monthly to every family for renting some housing; however, refugees say that this money is not enough.

In the morning on September 24, the refugees' TAC located in Ali-Yurt, as the people who live there report, was visited by cars with armed agents, the local prosecutor and the deputy head of the Nazran District. They demanded that people moved out the barracks where they live.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Tamara, one of the residents of the TAC, that two weeks ago the IDPs were ordered to abandon the barracks till September 30.

"They told us in a rude manner 'to gather our belongings and get out of here.' Otherwise, they threatened to appeal to the FSB. After that, we turned to the Prime Minister of Ingushetia Musa Chiliev and Yunus Lyanov at the Ministry for Public and Interethnic Relations of the republic. They told us one thing there, but act differently here," said Tamara.

The Prime Minister of Ingushetia explained how the authorities intended to solve the refugees' problem. "From the republic's budget we'll allocate funds for them to rent housing. That is, the IDPs should live in our republic just like we all do, that is, by using the same conditions and the same opportunities that exist for us," Mr Chiliev said.

According to Tamara, this Chiliev performance took place in the evening on September 23, and on the following day - September 24 - an attempt to evict people was undertaken. "People with automatic firearms arrived here in 18 cars, together with the prosecutor, deputy head of the administration of the Nazran District and other officials. They threatened to remove the slate roofing, doors and windows, and turn off gas, water and electricity, if we don't move out. We have sick children, elderly and disabled persons here. Murad Kostoev, a man who took part in two wars and whose entire family was killed in Grozny, had a massive heart attack from their noise and cries; he is now in the intensive care unit," the woman said.

She noted that refugees were offered 5000 roubles to rent housing. "But we don't know where today we can rent a flat for 5000 roubles per month; they ask from 10 to 20 thousand. Besides, it is very difficult to find such a flat. They (the authorities, - note of the "Caucasian Knot") don't care that winter is approaching; they have their mansions in Nazran and Magas; and we don't even have a land plot to put a panel house there. For almost 20 years we can't receive state support from Ossetia; we have refugee status, but they tell us that they won't give us compensation without a statement. And when will that statement be made? Wherever we go they demand money; but we have no money even for sugar and bread, because of high unemployment and small pensions. What should we do?" Tamara asked.

Local residents are sympathetic with the refugees who live in their settlements. Thus, Madina, a resident of Ali-Yurt, believes that "it's not humane to move people out into the street" with no guarantees.

Israpil Lotyrov, acting head of the administration of the Nazran District, in his turn, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that no eviction "to nowhere" was ever meant. According to his version, it is assumed to resettle people from housing in the state of emergency into rented flats with compensation of their rental fees.

He accused the refugees that they "wouldn't listen." "I explained to them that they need to find housing and come to us with a rental contract; we'll give them money for a year or 18 months to rent housing. And then, houses will be built for them, or money will arrive to their individual accounts to build houses. Now, the respective documents have been sent to Moscow," said Mr Lotyrov.

According to Djambulat Ozdoev, the Ombudsman in Ingushetia, the republic's leaders are working hardly to find alternatives to temporary accommodation of IDPs in the territory of Ingushetia.

He told about numerous collective and individual applications, recently coming to him, caused by the information about possible liquidation of TACs of refugees in the republic. Applicants fear forced eviction from their temporary housing.

The Ombudsman has stressed that now the work is underway to bring the information to citizens of the republic that no legal acts on this matter have been adopted so far; therefore any rumours about voluntary eviction of IDPs from North Ossetia and Chechnya have nothing to do with reality.