Volgograd hunger strikers demand first persons of the region as negotiators

Today is the 10th day of the hunger strike held by parents with many children and parents of disabled children in Volgograd. The protesters reports that their personal problems began being solved; however, they want to hold negotiations with the top officials of the region to address all the raised issues. Prior to a session of the Volgograd Regional Duma, Mikhail Taranysov, a Communist MP, urged his colleagues to discuss the hunger strike, but the parliamentarians rejected his proposal.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the hunger strike began on February 4. The protesters demand to solve the housing problems, increase social benefits to families with many children and families with disabled children.

The Speaker of the above Duma Vladimir Efimov informed the MPs that he had sent requests to the appropriate authorities regarding the hunger-strikers' personal problems and proposed to invite the government to the next sitting of the Duma Council.

The MP Oleg Bolotin said that some people in the region see a political context in the hunger strike, because of the fact that it began during the Olympics.

Let us remind you that on February 11 the hunger-striking Volgograd parents were visited by Alexander Oleinikov, the Governor's Assistant on invalids' matters and proposed to set up a regional coordinating council on large families' matters.