In Rostov-on-Don, veterans of Afghan War hold picket in defence of their rights

In Rostov-on-Don, about 50 former soldiers, the so-called "Afghans", have gathered today in the morning for holding a picket with a demand to allot land plots to them for building of dwelling houses.

We note here that February 15 is 20 years after withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan. Many regions of the SFD (South Federal District) plan to hold actions on the occasion.

Today's picket was sanctioned by Rostov authorities and took place in the Gorky Park. "The participants of the action were about 50 in number," the RIA "Novosti" reports with reference to the City Department of Internal Affairs.

Oleg Gontsov, spokesman of the Rostov City Branch of the Russian Union of Veterans of Afghanistan War, said that during 15 years of being in office the present Rostov City Administration has not allotted a single kopeck to Afghanistan veterans.

According to his story, the veterans have recently found out that the land for garden plots had been allotted to "Afghans", but "now half of these plots are owned by the persons who have nothing to do with the Afghan War, while the rest of them remain deserted."

Mr Gontsov has explained that the veterans have rallied for the picket with a demand to give them these plots for building private houses: "We keep telephone contacts with veterans in other regions, their situation is heavy to, but somehow they move forward, but here - nothing for 15 years. Therefore, we hold a picket now, and on February 23 we plan to hold a demonstration or start a hunger strike."

For many times the veterans addressed the city authorities, but all the appeals gave no result.