State Duma offers to pay Dagestani volunteers

On July 17, the Russian State Duma adopted in the second reading a bill to equate to war veterans the volunteers who were opposing the invasion of Chechen militants into Dagestan. The new edition of the bill also provides for monthly payments.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on June 20, in the course of the "Direct Line" with the Russian President, residents of the Dagestani village of Botlikh requested Vladimir Putin to equate volunteers to war veterans.

On July 17, the State Duma Committee on Labour and Social Policy approved for the second reading the bill on the status of war veterans for residents of Dagestan who fought with militants in 1999. The "Edinaya Rossiya" (United Russia) Party faction introduced an amendment to the bill to the second reading and suggested to treat Dagestani volunteers as participants of the hostilities and provide them with monthly cash payments, the RIA "Novosti" reported on July 17.

Among other issues, the updated version of the bill prepared for the second reading provides for benefits for pensions, 50% compensations for living expenses, and granting housing for war veterans.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on July 18, 2019 at 09:18 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.