Valery Khatazhukov: KBR authorities miss opportunity to prevent conflict with burial of suspected militants

The authorities of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR) have failed to timely resolve the conflict situation that occurred in the village of Dugulubgei: the villagers do not allow burying a man killed in explosion at the general cemetery. This was stated by Valery Khatazhukov, the leader of the Kabardino-Balkarian Public Human Rights Centre.

Let us remind you that on October 25, residents of the village of Dugulubgei sent an open letter to the Spiritual Administration of Muslims (SAM) of the KBR and to Valery Khatazhukov, demanding "to impose ban on burying militants at cemeteries together with law-abiding citizens."

Valery Khatazhukov says that he can understand the villagers, who lost their close relatives and friends. However, he believes that to make special cemeteries for militants is totally unacceptable.

Valery Khatazhukov believes that the authorities were to offer the way out of the conflict. "I am sure that if the authorities immediately tried to solve this problem, it would not have received such a resonance," he has said.

The leader of the Public Human Rights Centre of the KBR has also stated that the confrontation starting in the village "demonstrates ongoing civil war in the republic." "If we do not want to continue getting caught up in the war, the authorities should become the arbiter," Valery Khatazhukov believes.