Miners call on President Putin to solve Gukovo problems

Today, in Gukovo, 74 miners have gathered for a new picket in front of the House of Culture for the "Rostovskaya" mine. They have announced that they have not yet got the coal promised by the local authorities and reported the problems with the purchase of food.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that because of closed mines, almost the entire population of Gukovo occurred in distress – people have no jobs, and, accordingly, livelihoods; but utility tariffs are very high, and many residents have no coal for heating their homes. The miners were promised 100 tons of ration coal; however, so far, many of them have to collect firewood to heat their houses.

At today's picket, members of the initiative group have read out an appeal with a request for assistance in reporting to the Russian President the information about the critical situation in Gukovo. This was told to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by Tatiana Avachova, a member of the initiative group created by Gukovo miners.

According to the miners, this winter they faced the problem of malnutrition and they got help from one of the presidential candidates who sent a truck with food for them. However, the food aid has come to an end.

"About 3000 miners and members of their families are left without means of subsistence. [...] They get no job. [...] People! Citizens of Russia! Please, help us to report to the President of Russia the problems of the miners, the employees of the 'Kingcoal' LLC Group of Companies, the 'Vostochnaya' mine, residents of Gukovo, Zverevo, and Krasny Sulin in the Rostov Region," states the appeal, a copy of which was received by the "Caucasian Knot". The appeal is dated March 26, with 69 signatures under it.

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