Opposition rally to be held in Kalmykia

A protest rally with a demand of resignation of the incumbent President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov is planned for September 21 in the capital of Kalmykia. It is dated to the anniversary of dispersal of a similar protest action in September 2004.

We remind you that at night of September 22, 2004, in Elista, the capital of Kalmykia, militia used force against demonstrators, who also demanded resignation of Kirsan Ilyumzhinov.

Among the initiators of the present rally, there are the leaders of the Kalmyk oppositional movement, who four years ago were participants of the tragic events in Elista. The action under the motto "Right to live in Kalmykia without Ilyumzhinov" will be attended by the Public Movement "Right to live in Kalmykia", Communist Party of the Russian Federation, "Committee in support of Mayor of Elista Burulov", "Homeland" and others, the Internet portal "Sobcor.Ru" reports.

Within the agenda of the commemorating actions, the protesters plan to hold a picket in Moscow and sign-in for Ilyumzhinov's resignation both among residents of Kalmykia and among the Kalmyks who live in other regions of Russia, the PRIMA-News Agency reports.

In September 2005, in Elista, a conference was held "Kalmykia: September 2004. Lessons of civil courage", dedicated to one year's anniversary of violent dispersal of the oppositional rally at night on September 22, 2004. During those events, the OMON (Special Militia) used force, as a result of which one person (Batr Bembeev) was lost, several dozens received serious traumas, and hundreds were detained and arrested.