12:28, 24 March 2008

In Dagestan, militiamen demand resignation of MIA head and Public Prosecutor

Yesterday, on March 23, militiamen of Makhachkala held a rally with a demand of dismissal of the Interior Minister and Public Prosecutor of Dagestan. The pretext for the rally was the decision to cut the staff of the special battalion of Road Police (known as GIBDD).

The protesting militiamen rallied in front of the building of the Government of the Republic of Dagestan (RD). "On other days we cannot leave our service," the participants explained why Sunday was chosen to hold the action.

The protesters put forwards the following slogans: "Let's help RD President to get rid of mafia", "Down with corruption in the MIA", "Down with Pinochet-like Minister and his pocket blood-thirsty team", "Patron of criminals at the RD MIA Public Prosecutor of the RD Tkachov shall resign", "RD MIA Minister shall resign". After the rally, the posters were taken away by the militiamen who supervised the order. Then, Abdurashid Bibulatov, Deputy Head of the RD MIA Trade Union, demanded to give them back immediately and announced his intention to hold a hunger strike.

Author: Musa Mursalov, CK correspondent