14:59, 25 December 2014

Novolak District: protesters suspend their hunger strike

Hunger-strikers from the Novolak District demand to solve their land problem. Dagestan, December 24, 2014. Photo by Patimat Makhmudova for the ‘Caucasian Knot’.

After the meeting with Gadji Aidiev, the head of the administration of the Novolak District of Dagestan, on December 24, the hunger-strikers, who demand to solve their land problem, decided to suspend their protest action.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on December 23, 34 residents of the Novolak District of Dagestan, including 14 women, went on hunger strike. The main demand was to return to them the land plot of 9 hectares, located opposite the village of Shushiya, along the federal highway, which is now rented by the SPK "Almaz".

Back in April 1991, Moscow passed the Federal Law "On Rehabilitation of Repressed Nations", according to which the Laks and Akkin Chechens were granted the right to return to their homeland. However, the lack of consistency in enforcing the law resulted in protraction of the resettlement process of Lak nationals and conflict situations, say activists of the regional organization "Lak National Council".

At the meeting with hunger-strikers Gadji Aidiev has treated the demand of Shushiya villagers as reasonable, and said that he would bring the case to the Supreme Court of Dagestan.

He added that he would bring this situation to the head of the republic and seek the return of the land plot to the Shushiya villagers. He asked the hunger-strikers to stop their action and said that within a month the issue would be resolved positively.

The hunger-strikers agreed to suspend their action for a month, but warned that should their problem were not solved, they should start a large-scale hunger strike.

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

Author: Patimat Makhmudova

Source: CK correspondent