Karachay-Cherkessia: rights defender demands to resettle seriously ill invalids from emergency hostel

Antonina Lamshukova, an activist of the regional office of the Movement "For Human Rights" in Karachay-Cherkessia, appeals to the authorities, entrepreneurs and other citizens of Karachay-Cherkessia asking for assistance in resettling the severely ill residents of the hostel at 80 Turgenevskaya Street in Cherkessk.

"The heavily sick patients of the hostel at No. 80 Turgenevskaya Street in Cherkessk and I, after having lost all hope for justice, are forced to appeal through the Internet medium 'Caucasian Knot' to everyone who has financial opportunity, who is not indifferent to the fate of heavily ill people and who has a sense of compassion to one's neighbour, to assist in resettlement of at least three families, living in uninhabitable city hostel of Cherkessk," says Antonina Lamshukova.

According to her story, three families of invalids, whose critical condition is confirmed by medical certificates, need especially urgent help.

Ms Lamshukova notes in her appeal that she had passed through nearly 50 trials and fought for the rights of invalids in two ways. "We tried to achieve recognition by the court of the hostel at No. 80 Turgenevskaya Street as a building in the state of emergency, that its residents were relocated. But they stopped us by stating that the building was ownerless (decision of December 2, 2010, of the Cherkessk City Court stated that the hostel 'legally has no owner', - note of the editor). Secondly, we sought to improve the living conditions of disabled persons in accordance with the federal legislation. The Nursamadov family was allocated 464,000 roubles. This amount is intended for two invalids in this family. However, it's impossible to buy any acceptable housing for this money," she said.

Ms Lamshukova has added that now the hostel is inhabited by more than 40 invalids; five of them suffer from serious chronic mental diseases; seven have oncology diseases; there are those with tuberculosis.

Alla Midarova, a resident of the hostel, said that for eight years already they live without heat and gas.

Liudmila Nursamadova, another resident, says that earlier she had no cold water. "We had no proper water supply; my son brought water in containers. Six months ago they installed new pipe; the cold water is OK now. 10 years without water, heat and gas. My daughter is sick; she is in bed; I can't even wash her properly," complained Nursamadova.