22 November 2006, 23:30
Dagestan militia violently dispersed a rally of locals
On November 22 in Makhachkala, several hundreds of residents of the Kazbekovskiy District of Dagestan tried to hold a meeting to demand dismissal of Amir Azaev, head of District administration.
When the protesters tried to get to the central square of Makhachkala, militiamen interfered trying to stop the crowd, then started beating people with truncheons. Several persons were injured. Yegor Sorokin, photo correspondent of the "Chernovik" (Draft) Dagestan weekly, was beaten and brought to the District Militia Centre. Until now, Mr. Sorokon has not been released, despite an application of Hajimurad Kamalov, director of the "Svoboda Slova" (Freedom of Speech) Publishers and assistant of a State Duma Deputy.
Earlier, residents of the Kazbekovskiy District of Dagestan had repeatedly demanded to ouster Amir Azaev, head of District administration.
Author: Timur Isayev, CK correspondent
