18:27, 26 February 2019

Dagestani SC supports residents of Vremenny in a lawsuit over authorities' inaction

At the site of special operation in the village of Vremenny (Dagestan), September 2014. Screenshot from the Caucasian Knot video

Today, the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" has reported that the court has granted a complaint about a refusal to recognize the officials' inaction after a special operation in the Dagestani village of Vremenny.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that starting from September 2014 residents of the Dagestani village of Vremenny have been seeking compensation from the authorities for their houses destroyed during a special operation. In July 2018, the Soviet District Court, which considered the claim filed by lawyers of the HRC "Memorial" on behalf of 128 residents of the Vremenny village, refused to recognize the inaction of the authorities.

On September 18, 2014, residents of Vremenny reported the blocking of their settlement by law enforcers, house-by-house raids, and, later, the shortage of foodstuffs and destruction of their yard structures by law enforcers. On October 8, 2014, almost all the residents left the blocked settlement. In December 2014, a special commission found 52 houses unfit for residence.

"According to the law, the government bodies are given three months to approve the documents. Within three months from the date of the special operation, the documents should reach the Ministry for Emergencies (MfE) and the government. In our case, the process for approval of documents was started 1.5 years after the special operation. We believe the improper discharge of duties by the state bodies is obvious," said Marina Agaltsova, a "Memorial" lawyer, representing the interests of the plaintiffs, as quoted by the HRC "Memorial".

According to the rights defenders, the Supreme Court (SC) of Dagestan has agreed with the plaintiffs and cancelled the decision of the Soviet District Court.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on February 26, 2019 at 01:48 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.