17 October 2008, 19:48
In Dagestan, Afghan war veterans suspend hunger strike
The participants of the hunger strike initiated by the so-called "Afghan veterans" on October 6 in Makhachkala made a decision, after meeting Shamil Zainalov, Chairman of the Government of Dagestan, to suspend their protest action.
The hunger-strike in the capital of Dagestan is held by about 50 "Afghans". The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that by means of this action the veterans of the war in Afghanistan wanted to draw attention to their problems, first of all, to providing them with housing facilities in accordance with the federal legislation.
On October 16, an agreement was reached between the hunger-strikers and the Chairman of the Government of Dagestan to organize a meeting of representatives of Afghan veterans with State Duma deputies from Dagestan, who plan to come to Makhachkala on Tuesday, October 21, the "Gazeta.Ru." writes.
Earlier, the veterans of the warfare in Afghanistan had met deputies of the National Assembly of Dagestan and the Minister of Labour and Social Development of the Republic Ismail Efendiev.
According to Mr Efendiev, the deputies of Russian State Duma from Dagestan "should put forward a legislative initiative in the faction of 'Edinaya Rossiya', and, having won support of the deputies from other regions, bring the issue for debates at the country's Parliament."
