Protest rally in SernovodskRuslan Isayev, North Caucasus – On July 16, people living in Sernovodsk in the Achkhoi-Martan district, west of Grozny, blocked the ”Kavkaz” federal road for the whole day allowing neither civilian, nor military cars to go through. In addition, the ”Kavkaz-1” checkpoint temporarily stopped working.
The protest took place after Russian soldiers detained five local people the day before: Khamzat Gubashev, Apti Israilov, Ali Tazuyev, Shadid Magomayev and Aleksei Semchenko. The last of them, a Russian refugee from Grozny, has been living in a Chechen family in Sernovodsk since the outbreak of the second war.
The soldiers and policemen, including Chechens in masks, detained also Mutush Gazaliyev, b. 1936, but released him because of his age. However, no information has been available on the five detainees mentioned above. Besides, soldiers heavily beat three women trying to prevent them from detaining. Local people claim neither of the detained had anything to do with Chechen guerillas.
The rally continued till late evening and the protesters produced an appeal urging the force structures to release those illegally detained. Should this be neglected, they are ready to continue their protest. (M/T) |
