Dagestan: Gimry villagers state mass violations during special operation

In the course of a special operation conducted in the village of Gimry, Untsukul District of Dagestan, power agents delivered random fire and vandalized property in houses, local residents complain.

Reports about fights in the Untsukul District began arriving from local residents on April 11. On April 21, the end of the active phase of the special operation in the village of Gimry was announced; however, on April 13 local residents reported that cleansings had resumed. According to their reports, as of today, cleansings are still underway.

The residents of the village, who now stay in the settlement Vremenny have signed a collective appeal to the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial", as Elena Denisenko, the employee of the HRC for Dagestan, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. According to her story, the appeal was signed by about 300 people.

The collective appeal says that on April 11 at 8:00 a.m. the villagers heard the first shots fired outside the village. According to their story, neither they, nor the head of the village administration were warned about the impending special operation.

"The gorge near the village was also cordoned off by power agents, who began shelling it. By 2:00 p.m. the village was full of power agents in masks and camouflage, who came in different military machines. Shooting was opened. Residents began hurriedly leaving Gimry," says the text of the collective appeal. "From a fright, some elderly villagers had heart attacks, and one had a stroke."

According to villagers, in the morning of April 12, power agents announced evacuation; women were allowed to take documents and things from their house; and they left the village on foot. On April 13, power agents began searching houses. "They turned everything upside down, broke doors and smashed household equipment," says the appeal.

Elena Denisenko said, referring to local residents, that the special operation was accompanied by random fire, which caused panic among villagers, and added that the settlement of Vremenny "lacks essential items, clothes and foodstuffs."

On April 14, Ramazan Abdullatipov, the acting head of Dagestan, promised during a working meeting with the heads of the village and the district, to solve, in the near future, the problems the Gimry residents, who had left the village because of the special operation.

Gimry has 1200 households, inhabited by about 5000 people, Khadizhat Rasulova, a local resident, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. She fears that the authorities will not be able to provide at least temporary shelter to all who left the village. Besides, as she said, during the special operation men in military uniform killed cattle and broke fruit trees.

Magomed Baachilov, Secretary of the Security Council of the republic, has confirmed that power agents continue preventive actions in the village of Gimry. According to his story, it is not known how long the special operation will last.