Residents of Untsukul District of Dagestan associate CTO regime with protest actions

Under the pretext of the counterterrorist operation (CTO) regime, which was introduced in the Untsukul District of Dagestan on March 8, searches were conducted by power agents in the village of Kharachi. Locals associate the introduction of the regime with the protest actions held in the area of the Irganai reservoir.

Let us remind you that on March 5, a rally was held in the village of Irganai by the district residents, whose farms were flooded after the construction of the Irganai hydroelectric power plant (HPP). They demanded to pay compensations to them before March 20, otherwise they promised to hold a large-scale protest action.

According to Magomed Begov, a resident of the Untsukul District, the CTO regime was a reaction to the rally.

"The same thing happened in 2008, when, after filling in the reservoir, pickets were held by the locals, who received no compensation. In response to pickets, they deployed troops in Balakhani," said Magomed Begov.

His opinion is shared by Gamzat Gamzatov, the head of the public organization "Justice in Society" and one of the organizers of the rally on March 5.

According to his story, there were no visible reasons for introducing the CTO regime in the district. "I'm sure that it's just an attempt to intimidate the protesters," he said.