First of a series of pickets in support of Balkars held in Moscow

On November 20, a picket was held in Taras Shevchenko Embankment in Moscow in support of the Balkars, who are holding their protest action in Manezh Square for many days already. The picket was initiated by Karachai and Balkar youth.

Hasan Mamaev, head of the youth initiative group, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that the place, where the picket was held in cold rainy weather, was practically deserted; therefore, they had to terminate the event even a little before the deadline.

"Everything was peaceful; more than 70 persons came. We were holding posters with slogans: 'Kabardino-Balkaria fails to fulfil decision of Constitutional Court', 'Our old people are freezing for Russian laws', 'Equal rights for all nations of Kabardino-Balkaria', 'Our old people live on benches for 140 days', 'Return status to Khasanya and Belaya Rechka villages'. The latter one is just regarding the decision of the Constitutional Court of Russia, which is ignored by local authorities. These villages had been separate municipal units, but were illegally annexed to the city of Nalchik and lost their right of self-government," said Mamaev.

According to his story, the youth of the two brotherly peoples find it very important "to publicly express their support of the elders who are still in Manezh Square day and night in all weather, demanding respect of their rights by the authorities."