Chechnya: authorities demolish cemetery in Argun

Residents of the city of Argun report that within the large-scale reconstruction and building of new objects the authorities intend to demolish part of the city cemetery. This causes hidden discontent among the people, although there were no open protest actions on this occasion in the city.

The large-scale reconstruction of the city of Argun began last November. The republic's and local municipal authorities plan to build a complex of high rise buildings there, a large shopping centre, a mosque and a number of other objects.

Meanwhile, authorities are planning to substantially increase the total construction area in Argun. Residents of the city assert that part of the city cemetery was reserved for construction; and in this connection relatives of the people buried there are offered to move the remains to some other place.

"Allegedly, all the re-burial expenses will be compensated to the relatives; people are dissatisfied; however, nobody dares to protest openly," said Isa Kh., a resident of Argun.

"Close to the cemetery, there is a highway, and, according to the authorities, it is planned to expand it by several lanes. But to do this, they will have to remove some graves. As far as I know, according to Muslim traditions (and our traditions), people's tombs should not be dug up," said Salman Z., another city resident, according to whose opinion demolition of the cemetery is a "blasphemy."

It was impossible to receive any comments on this issue from city authorities.