Picketers in Grozny urge officials to pay attention to orphans' problems

On June 1, the international Children's Day, a rally was held in the Journalists' Mini-Park of the Chechen capital, where activists of a number of public organizations called on the state officials to pay attention to the problems of disabled children and orphans.

In total, the picket attracted about 70 people. The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent has learnt from Kheda Abdulkuduzova, the head of the board of the Republic's Public Organization (RPO) "Rights and Defence of Invalids, Veterans of Warfare and Families of Those who Perished in the Chechen Republic", that Muslim Khuchiev, Mayor of Grozny, Magomed Daudov, the head of the administration of the head of Chechnya and of the Chechen government, and other officials came out to meet the picketers.

One of them, a girl named Madina, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that she is an orphan, and her parents perished the first military campaign in Chechnya.

"I'm already 22, if I fail to receive the housing, the state owes to me as to an orphan, next year I'll lose this right. Is it fair?" she asked.

According to Ruslan Magomedov, a lawyer from the Bar of Dagestan, indeed, according to the federal law, state housing is provided to orphans until they reach the age of 23. "However, changes should occur since January 1, 2013, when the amendments made in the law by the State Duma will come into force," said the lawyer.

According to a source from the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Development of Chechnya, at the beginning of 2012, the housing waiting lists included 416 orphans. "It is planned to provide housing to all of them within five years," he said.

According to his story, today Chechnya counts 41,489 children with disabilities. "As to the orphans, according to the latest data, there are 1300 of them in Chechnya; they are full orphans. More than 25,000 are semi-orphans," said the official.