Migrants from Chechnya claim facing obstacles in obtaining housing in Ingushetia

Forced migrants complain that officials explain refusals to provide housing to people, who had moved to Ingushetia during the war in Chechnya, by the lack of forced migrant status and compensations paid many years ago, which were not enough to buy housing.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on June 29, refugees from Chechnya living in Ingushetia complained to the Russian President that the republic’s authorities did not provide them with housing and ignored complaints about the unresolved housing problem. By making amendments to the law on forced migrants in 2015, the state withdrew from itself all obligations to provide those people with housing, human rights defenders claim.

Teacher Magomed-Girei Sukiev said that he had lost an apartment in Grozny and had not yet received an equivalent compensation. Now he lives with his five children in a rented apartment. One of the children is disabled.

Akhmedkhan seeks the restoration of his status of forced migrant. “My family did not receive anything from the state. It made us homeless. I complained to the presidential administration, but did not get any reaction ... I do not associate the lives of my children with Russia. It is actually impossible for a normal person to live here,” the man believes.

“In 2003, someone received compensation from the state on my behalf. I personally did not see or receive any help from the state,” said Madina Khamkhoeva, an elderly forced migrant from Chechnya.

Forced migrant Mustafa Dzeitov also received compensation from the state and lost his status. According to the man, he does not live in the street only thanks to the help of his relatives.