Residents of Derbent demand to cancel increased fees for kindergartens

Today, in the city of Derbent, parents of preschool children have held a rally against the increase of the fees for children's care and rearing in state-owned kindergartens. They tried to get into the Mayoralty to meet the Mayor, but were pushed away by security guards and policemen.

According to the protesters, on January 9 they were told at kindergartens that the fee would be increased by 500 roubles: in 2016 they paid 1000 roubles for one child; now they would have to pay 1500 roubles, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

The initiative group was let into the Mayoralty to meet Deputy Mayor Mekhti Aliev.

"He said that the fee is increased not by 500, but by 350 roubles; and this happens throughout the republic, but he failed to clearly explain why we should pay more than last year," said Gulya Seidova, a protester.

Valeriya Khasanova, the Chair of the Women's Council of Derbent, referred to the order of the Ministry of Education of Dagestan on the increase of the fee.

However, the protesters demanded "to stop the robbery." Women complained about the conditions in kindergartens, namely, poor sanitary conditions and catering, as well as about "endless extortions".

Activists intend to hold a rally again, if the fee is not reduced down to 1000 roubles within a week.

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