Dagestani authorities claim lack of federal funds to pay compensation to Mekhelta villagers

Till present, the federal budget allocated no funds for compensation payments to residents of the village of Mekhelta of the Gumbet District of Dagestan affected by the torrential rains, stated the response of the Dagestani authorities to a complaint filed by two local residents. However, the letter from the Russian Ministry of Regional Development contradicts the information of the Dagestani authorities, advocate Sapiyat Magomedova believes.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on August 29, Saigitag Shayikhmagomedov and Shayikhmagomed Shayikhmagomedov, two residents of the village of Mekhelta of the Gumbet District of Dagestan, filed a complaint to the Dagestani leader about delays in making of the decision and effecting compensation payments to the people affected by the natural disaster.

The response of the Dagestan's Government represents a "kind of one more runaround", and in fact, the funds for compensation have been allocated. This opinion has been voiced by advocate Sapiyat Magomedova, who represents the interests of the two Mekhelta residents. To prove her opinion, the advocates refers to the letter from the Ministry of Regional Development of the Russian Federation of June 25, 2006, which states that the Russian Ministry of Regional Development supported the request of the Government of the Republic of Dagestan to allocate fund for compensation payments to the families affected by the natural disaster.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.