In Grozny, builders from Turkish companies continue their protests

On February 17, about 40 people gathered at the building of the Mosque "The Heart of Chechnya" in Grozny with a demand to get their salary debts.

"For three months already we are vainly trying to get through the closed doors of state bureaucrats. There is no reaction, as if neither we nor the problem exist. Isn't there any procedure provided for protection of rights of deceived workers? We've built objects in own republic, and not just objects – the pride of Grozny," one of the protesters told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to his story, some of the workers had their signed labour contracts; however, they disappeared together with fugitive bosses."

The demonstrators said that neither officials nor public leaders ever come to talk to them.

Nurdi Nukhazhiev, Ombudsman in Chechnya, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that he knows about the builders from the companies "Penta" and "Bora Inshaat".

"How can we say so categorically that none is addressing their problems? This is a legal dispute, a dispute of civil acts; and it should be resolved within the Russian legislation. There are customers and contractors – the companies that worked at these objects. All these issues should be resolved under the procedures outlined by the Russian law," said Nurdi Nukhazhiev.

According to his version, nobody encroaches on workers' rights to voice out their concerns. The silence of state bodies should not be seen as indifference, because "the case is being investigated".