The family of the Mother-Heroine from Ingushetia complained about the lack of housing assistance.

The family of Ingushetia resident Khadijat Dzakhkieva, who was awarded the title of "Mother-Heroine" only on the third attempt, reported the absence of payments and housing assistance. Lawyers interviewed by "Caucasian Knot" noted that federal regulations provide for payments and benefits but do not obligate authorities to provide housing for such families.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", the family of Khadijat and Maksharip Dzakhkieva, who have 10 children, applied for the title of "Mother-Heroine" three times but received responses from the Ingushetia authorities without any reasons for refusal. The head of the family is a combat veteran and a retired Ministry of Internal Affairs officer. The family lives in the village of Inarki. On February 1, it became known that Khadijat Dzakhkieva from the village of Inarki received the title of "Mother-Heroine".

Officials did not allow the Dzakhkieva family to the ceremonial event

The authorities presented Khadijat Dzakhkieva with badges and a diploma of "Mother-Heroine", but did so without the required payments. The authorities have not resolved the housing issue for the family, said Maksharip Dzakhkieva.

"In addition to my wife, two other women were awarded titles in June, a total of three mothers were honored. But they did it in such a way that no one was allowed in except for the son who accompanied his mother due to her poor eyesight. Journalists were even kept away to prevent interviews," he told a correspondent from "Caucasian Knot".

Dzakhkieva believes that he was not allowed to the ceremony due to his activism in defending his family's rights. "Previously, the award ceremony was held ceremoniously, families were invited. Two years ago, similar mothers were given a 4-room apartment and a minibus. But this time, no one was allowed in – neither husbands nor children. They even used to arrange a telebridge with the Kremlin. Now there was nothing," he lamented.

There has been no progress in resolving his family's housing problem, clarified Maksharip Dzakhkieva. "It is already known in all instances that we are a large family, yet we are cramped in rented housing. No one offers help in resolving the issue. The funds that will be allocated for the title of "Mother-Heroine" and our savings will not be enough to solve the problem of acquiring adequate housing," Dzakhkieva said.

He added that all his complaints and requests to government agencies, up to the head of the republic and the President of the Russian Federation, have not yet influenced the resolution of the problem.

Dzakhkieva also mentioned that in 2019, his family was allocated a plot of land for construction as a large family. "But the plot was far from the village, without infrastructure – no electricity, gas, or water. We did not have the means to develop it and build a house. Moreover, there were ongoing expenses for the children. We had to sell it. As for the queue for improving housing conditions, we are also in it, but there are no prospects. It seems that there is some corruption involved here," Dzakhkieva believes.

Currently, the authorities are not allocating apartments to residents, said the head of the village of Inarki in the Malgobek district of Ingushetia Adam Kotiyev. "This is certainly a problem. But it is not within my competencies, of course. Perhaps if it is addressed at the republican level. For example, if the head himself participates in this matter, it could be resolved. For now, housing issues are not being resolved. In the last 20 years, as far as I remember, no one has been given apartments. It doesn't matter if they are large families or not," Kotiyev told a correspondent from "Caucasian Knot".

The allocation of land for individual housing construction is also not within his competence and has been transferred to the discretion of the Ministry of Property of Ingushetia, the head of the village added.

Lawyers spoke about the payments due

In Ingushetia, the issue of support for large families is currently complex, noted human rights activist Magomed Mutsolgov. "As far as I know, there is no allocation of housing; moreover, the authorities even deprive families of child benefits if they have no income at all. This is absurd, especially given the enormous unemployment rate," he noted to a correspondent from "Caucasian Knot".

For Mother-Heroines, there are a number of payments and benefits, but mandatory housing allocation is not provided at the federal level, explained lawyer Timofey Shirokov.

"There is a one-time payment upon receiving this title of about one million rubles. And monthly payments for the status, early retirement, exemption from contributions for major repairs, and housing maintenance. In addition, federal law provides for the allocation of land for residential construction. The provision of apartments is not stipulated, but there may be corresponding regional decisions," he told a correspondent from "Caucasian Knot".

Large families, even in relatively affluent regions, are still in line for improved housing conditions, the lawyer continued.

"I have acquaintances in Moscow who are large families, but so far no one has been given an apartment, even though they registered for improved housing conditions. But apparently, this queue is very long and tedious, although for those with more than five children, it is even more preferential. But everything depends on the financial capabilities of the region. In places like Ingushetia, I think the budget is small, of course, and there are probably quite a few large families, so this is a difficult task for them in the current situation," Shirokov believes.

It is important to separate the moral aspect of the issue from the legal one, noted lawyer Marina Agaltsova. "Unfortunately, the mere absence of housing, having many children, and even being awarded the title of "Mother-Heroine" does not create an obligation for the state to acquire housing for the family or to pay the amount needed to purchase it," Agaltsova explained to a correspondent from "Caucasian Knot".

But this does not mean that the family is deprived of the right to state support. If the family does not have its own housing, rents it, and meets the criteria of the law, it has the right to seek improved housing conditions and to be registered for housing. In Ingushetia, there are regional support measures: large families can apply for a plot of land for individual housing construction, the lawyer said.

To resolve the problem, the Dzakhkieva family should contact government agencies. They should submit an application to the local administration to be recognized as low-income and in need of housing, and to be registered for the provision of housing under a social rental agreement. They should also request verification of their right to a social payment for the purchase or construction of housing, Agaltsova explained.

They should ask the family mortgage operator to assess whether it is possible to use family mortgage, maternity capital, the payment of 450,000 rubles for large families to pay off the mortgage, and regional funds as part of the housing purchase. The Social Fund of the Russian Federation should be asked to calculate an affordable option for acquiring housing considering all support measures. The Commissioner for Children's Rights and the Commissioner for Human Rights should be asked to assist in protecting the family's housing rights and in interacting with government authorities. Finally, they should contact the prosecutor's office to conduct an inspection of compliance with the housing and social rights of the large family, concluded the lawyer.