KBR's human rights activists urge Medvedev and State Duma to announce amnesty by Victory Day

Members of human rights organizations of Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachaevo-Circassia have offered the authorities of Russia to announce amnesty by the Victory Day, including for the participants of events on October 13, 2005, in Nalchik.

"In view of the fact that earlier amnesties were announced for those who committed socially dangerous acts in the course of confrontation in the Chechen Republic, we hereby ask to exhibit humanity to those who revealed resistance on October 13, 2005, to law enforcement bodies after they were persecuted for defence of their rights to profess their Islamic religion," says the statement sent to Russian President Medvedev, Chairman of the Council of Federation Mironov and Speaker of the State Duma Gryzlov.

The initiators of the appeal were L. Mamkhegova, head of the Committee of Soldier's Mothers of Kabardino-Balkaria, S. Shebzukhov, head of the regional human rights organization for Karachaevo-Circassia, and V. Stepanov, expert of the Public Movement "For Human Rights".

The appeal is accompanied by an amnesty decree draft, which offers to free the following categories: those convicted for the first time for the terms of up to three years inclusive; militaries who have not committed especially dangerous offences, including the militaries who took part in warfare to defend homeland; veterans of World War II and former prisoners of concentration camps; women having minor children; women aged 50 and older; disabled women of Categories I and II; TB patients; and minors.

It has become known to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that relatives of the defendants on events on October 13, 2005, sent letters to deputies of the State Duma and members of the Council of Federation from Kabardino-Balkaria asking them to support the above appeal.

The appeal of the Committee of Soldier's Mothers is supported also by elders of some villages, World War II and labour veterans.