Anna Politkovskaya denies information about "decent conditions" being created for Chechen refugees

Speaking to Ekho Moskvy Radio, journalist Anna Politkovskaya denied information that "decent conditions" were being created for Chechen refugees. On February 5, First Deputy Head of the Federal Migration Service Militia Major-General Igor Yunash announced that Bart, a tent camp for displaced persons in Ingushetia, would be liquidated soon. "Three days ago, I visited the settlement that 50 families from Bart are to be removed to by February 10. There are only log houses, no infrastructure, no facilities; workers were in a hurry to knock up toilets," said the journalist. Anna Politkovskaya does not also believe that normal living conditions will be created for refugees who stay in Ingushetia. "As far as I know, there is no habitation for them in reality," she said. "There are ill-equipped cottages for persons displaced as a result of the Osetian-Ingush conflict, who have been standing in the queue for housing for years. This information is for use in Moscow, for people who do not reach Chechnya and do not see the real situation. It is a 100 percent PR-action timed to the election. Functionaries have the only task to resettle the refugee so that they do not loom hear. And after 1 March they will say there are no refugees - the president has coped with this problem." Ms Politkovskaya also noted that at present they "do not load refugees onto carts, as it was in 1944", in order to forcibly evict them. "The first means is to cut off gas supply, and one will not be able to live in a tent for long. The other means is to constantly seize people they plan to evict," the journalist said.

Editors note: See also the article "Authorities intend to close Bart tent refugee camp".