KChR's Nogais unite to defend their rights

On December 28, the constituent assembly of the Congress of the Nogai People was held in the village of Erken-Khalk, Nogai District of the Karachay-Cherkessian Republic (KChR). The Congress should defend the rights of the Nogais living in the region.

About 150 people took part in the assembly, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports. Eldar Baibagisov was elected the head of the Congress; and its creators plan to apply for registration.

The Congress of the KChR's Nogai People is a need, because the population does not always find understanding with the authorities, said Mukharbi Isaliev, the head of the Erken-Khalk rural settlement.

"We have a lot of problems: we are losing our language and culture; we've lost plenty of our lands; we've scanty ties with the Nogais living in other regions," Mr Isaliev has stated.

Raisa Boiko, a resident of Adil-Khalk aul, sees the preservation of the Nogai culture as the main mission of the created Congress.

Let us note here that the Congress of the Nogai People of the KChR is not the first Nogais' public organization in the republic. In particular, they have the "Nogai El" National-Cultural Autonomy and the "Birlik" organization here, which deal mainly with culture issues.

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