An action in memory of the victims of disaster in Chernobyl nuclear power plant passed off in Chechnya

On April, 26, an action devoted to memory of the victims of radiation accidents and catastrophes with participation of about 300 people timed to the 25th anniversary of Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster passed off in Grozny. 

Committee of Youth Affairs of the Government of Chechnya was the organizer of the action.

Over 1700 residents of Checheno-Ingush ASSR have taken part in liquidation of the consequences of the disaster in Chernobyl nuclear power plant (NPP) of 1986, a representative of the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Development of Chechnya said to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. 

The interests of Chechen Chernobyl disaster fighters are represented by "Chechen republican organization Unit "Russian Chernobyl" which is part of the all-Russian Unit of non-governmental associations "Russian Chernobyl". 

"We created our organization yet 15 years ago to provide disaster fighters from CR with the same rights and privileges which other participants of Chernobyl events from the Russian regions have. Then there were 1780 of us", Ali Zaurbekov, disaster fighter at Chernobyl NPP, said. 

"Today our organization consists of 556 members. 456 of them are disaster fighters of Chernobyl, 171 disabled persons of different categories among them. There are also 32 persons who have undergone radioactive irradiation as a result of nuclear tests in Semipalatinsk range among our members", a representative of the association of Chernobyl disaster fighters explains. 

He told us the story of his and his colleagues' bringing to Ingali NPP without warning of the danger they would face. Learning by example they were shown what they had to do at Chernobyl NPP. Then they were taken right to the scene of the catastrophe. 

"Many experts and military men were coming to the zone of disaster on those awful days. All of them were sent on the mission of working at the hazardous block. The disaster fighters were working in the dangerous zone by turns. Those who got maximal radiation dose were taken away and replaced by other fighters. The major part of the work was done during the first two years after the accident", a Chechen veteran of Chernobyl told us about the events of those years. 

Earlier, the "Caucasian Knot" reported that all the disaster fighters of Chernobyl residing in Chechnya would receive a one-time financial aid and jubilee awards timed to the 25th anniversary of Chernobyl disaster. 

At the same time, we remarked that the disaster fighters of CNPP themselves were rather dissatisfied with the officials' actions. "The authorities remember about us, just like the veterans of the Great Patriotic War, only on the days of anniversary of the catastrophe. To solve any problem, no matter whether it is receiving medications, sanatorium vouchers etc., we have to beat down the doors of all kind of offices. Already for several years I have been on the waiting list for improvement of dwelling conditions but the process has still got nowhere", a veteran of Chernobyl who preferred to remain anonymous says. 

Our interlocutor states that several times some go-betweens have contacted him offering help in solving his problems for pecuniary reward. "I was told quite clearly that I could remain on the waiting list for improvement of my dwelling conditions till the end of my life without bribing the proper persons. Different sums were mentioned, beginning with 200 thousand rubles and more. But I haven't got such sums of money, that is why I am still living with my family in a two-room flat".