34 residents of Novolak District of Dagestan go on hunger strike demanding to solve their land problem

Today, 34 resident of the Novolak District of Dagestan have gone on hunger strike, demanding to provide them with land shares. The action takes place in the village of Shushiya; there are 14 women among the protesters.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that no complete relocation of Lak nationals from the Novolak District to new residence took place yet. The main problem faced by resettlers is the absence of schools, hospitals and workplaces. As stated in February this year by Igor Slyunyaev, the Minister of Regional Development of Russia, a total of 669 resettlers from the Novolak District need accommodation.

Back in April 1991, Moscow passed the Federal Law "On Rehabilitation of Repressed Nations", according to which the Laks and Akkin Chechens were granted the right to return to their homeland. However, the lack of consistency in enforcing the law resulted in protraction of the resettlement process of Lak nationals and conflict situations, say activists of the regional organization "Lak National Council".

People are sick and tired of waiting for their problems to be solved, Elmira Bagirchaeva, one of the hunger-strikers, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to her story, residents of Shushiya and other villages are the initiators of the hunger strike.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.