Group of KBR residents calls society not to remain indifferent to situation in the region

A group of residents of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR) has appealed to the authorities and the public with an open letter entitled "Young Caucasians perish - both Muslims and policemen".

The letter is addressed to the Parliament of the KBR and all the deputies of the republic, the Public Chamber of the KBR, the Ombudsperson in the KBR, the Human Rights Centre (HRC) of the KBR, the HRC "Memorial", The Spiritual Administration of Muslims (SAM) of the republic, the youth government of the region, and to local public organizations and political parties. However, the letter stresses that it is also addressed to all residents of the republic, "to all parents who have children and grandchildren."

"We urge you all not to stay away from the tragedy that befalls us. If we collectively fail to resolve this problem, we are at risk to sons, grandsons and the future," says the letter.

Its authors note that earlier, at the meeting with the local Interior Minister, they were promised that "mothers would be given a chance to talk with their sons, trying to sane their lives, before fire is opened." However, on September 3, during a special operation in the city of Baksan, Ms Lampezheva and Ms Kachkarova, whose sons were among the blocked militants, were rejected such a chance. "After that, we have serious doubts that anyone is interested to capture militants alive," says the letter.

"Young Caucasians perish - both Muslims and policemen. Both are our relatives, neighbours, and fellow countrymen; they are our young generation, which should live, raise children, not kill and be killed," the authors of the letter write.

"It's not true that our young Muslims are extremists. It's also untrue that they go to the forest because of money. Our sons are in no need; besides, nobody dies for money."

"If the public does not interfere, we may lose our young male generation. Help us, parents, to protect our sons and grandsons," the authors of the letter call.