Khatazhukov: militants' adaptation commission in KBR has received no applications

For the whole time of existence in the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR) of the commission for adaptation of militants to civilian life, not a single militant's application, said Valery Khatazhukov, the head of the regional human rights centre, at a press conference in Nalchik on July 13.

"I think that the point is not that militants in Kabardino-Balkaria would not like to surrender, as it happens in Dagestan and Ingushetia. I'm sure that there are many among them who'd do it willingly; but maybe they do not believe that the commission can really help them in it," said the rights defender.

The press conference was also addressed by Nazifat Kansaeva, a resident of the village of Chegem. She said that her son Khasan Kansaev, born in 1990, left home in November 2010. Later she learned that her son was on the wanted list.

The woman took part in the sitting of the council under the Russian President, where the issue of setting up a federal adaptation commission and where she outlined hers views on the current situation in Kabardino-Balkaria.

"The adaptation commission should show – at least in the case of one militant – that it is not a formal structure and can really help them in return to civilian life. Only then, those willing to surrender will believe it," said Ms Kansaeva.

So far, the "Caucasian Knot" has no comments of the commission members on the adaptation process of former members of illegal armed formations (IAFs) to civilian life with respect to the issues raised at the press conference. Earlier, Ruslan Eshugaov, the head of the commission, said that in Kabardino-Balkaria power agents refuse to participate in the work of the commission whatsoever.