40 hunger-striking mothers of disabled children continue their protest in Volgograd Region

On September 25, the authorities of the Volgograd Region initiated a meeting with the participants of the fan-like hunger strike of mothers of children with disabilities; however, most of them could not be present as they were not warned in advance, said Svetlana Selenok, one of the hunger-strikers. According to her story, now the action is supported by 40 mothers.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on September 12, 38 mothers of children with disabilities went on hunger strike demanding to open a regional rehabilitation centre.

On September 25, the women met some officials of the relevant ministries headed by Prime Minister Oleg Kersanov. The mothers stressed that the top priority is to set up conditions for medical rehabilitation of their disabled children and receive the due benefits on the required drugs.

Besides, many individual problems of hunger-strikers were taken under Premier's control, others were accompanied by particular instructions with fixed deadlines, said the website of the administration of the Volgograd Region.

"There are improvements in procurement of the drugs for free-of-charge dissemination; and the respective funds have been increased. In 2014, the funds for subsidized drugs will be allotted in the regional budget," said Oleg Kersanov.

Svetlana Selenok has associated the activation of regional authorities in search a dialogue with hunger-strikers with the fact that the coalition of political organizations "All-Russian Popular Front" has publicly stated its support for the protesting mothers.

She noted that their demands have nothing to do with politics and stressed that the hunger strike goes on.