Oppositional rally held in Kabardino-Balkaria

In Nalchik, at the Memorial to Balkars-Victims of Repressions an oppositional rally, sanctioned by city authorities, was held. The main topics of the protest were flawed elections and land problems existing in the republic.

Ismail Sabanchiev, the leader of public organization named "Board of Elders of Balkar People" (BEBP), said in his speech that over 26,000 hectares of land from recreational zone would be alienated for the future tourist cluster. According to his story, residents of mountain communities, who traditionally live from animal husbandry, will face serious problems.

"Under the guise of rent, farmland is granted to individuals; now, the pay attention to recreation zones. These lands are the property of the people of Kabardino-Balkaria; they will never belong to individuals, whatever efforts they strain," said Sabanchiev.

Amirkhan Kushkhov, 85, a resident of the village of Argudan, said an initiative group had made a yard-by-yard survey in Argudan and found that 95 percent of residents speak in favour of transferring land into private ownership. "Land should be distributed among villagers, among those who live on it," he said.

The rally adopted a resolution with an offer to bring a proposal to Government of the Russian Federation to suspend the status of Special Economic Zone in the Elbrus, Chegem and Zolsk Districts of Kabardino-Balkaria until the entry into force of the Federal Law No. 131 and actual transfer of land to rural settlements.

The participants have also decided to hold village assemblies on allocation of land shares to villagers.