Rally on 25th Chernobyl anniversary held in Adygea

The people who rallied in Maikop at the memorial to liquidators of the Chernobyl accident spoke about the events that happened 25 years ago at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) and implications thereof.

Over 800 residents of Adygea took part in liquidation of implications of the Chernobyl accident: officers, warrant officers, sergeants and soldiers of the Maikop garrison and drafted reservists.

Most of the liquidators are now invalids. Many of them were decorated by state awards for their courage and heroism in carrying out their civil duty. More than 120 residents of Adygea received Orders of Courage, and over 130 - Medals "For Salvation of Perishing People". However, as reported by the Committee for Nationalities' Matters, part of presentations for awards is still unimplemented.

"The memorial date forces to pay attention to measures of social support of liquidators and their families," said Evgeniy Salov, chairman of the committee on culture, family matters and interaction with public organizations of the State Council-Khasse of the Republic of Adygea (RA). "There are still problems relating to provision of housing to liquidators and their families, drug supplies to those who need treatment, and their annual medical examination."

"I remember that day very well; I was at my army service in the Chernigov Region, not far from Chernobyl," said Yuri Autlev, first deputy head of the municipal formation "City of Maikop". "We were on duty and saw how the whole night cars were taking out something from the chemical protection stocks. We did not understand what was happening. The understanding the scale of the tragedy came later."

The rally was attended by Deputies of the State Council-Khasse of the RA, members of the local Cabinet of Ministers, leaders of the municipal formation "City of Maikop", liquidators of the Chernobyl accident, churchmen, activists of public organizations and students of Maikop.

As reported by the Republic's Committee for Nationalities' Matters, this year 84,000 roubles have been allotted from the national budget of Adygea for material support of the activists of the regional branch of the All-Russian Public Organization "Chernobylets" and the Republic's Public Organization "Chernobyl Union".