Chechen human rights defender Tashtamirov continues hunger strikeTimur Aliyev, North Caucasus, October 4 – Chechen human rights defender Sulumbek Tashtamirov has been continuing his hunger strike in refugee camp „Rassvyet“ in Sleptsovskaya, Ingushetia, for ten days already.
Sulumbek Tashtamirov, the leader of Chechen human rights organization „Sintar“, launched his hunger strike on September 24 in protest against the ongoing bloodshed in the territory of the Chechen Republic. He raised political requirements on the leadership of the Russian Federation. The requirments include guarantees of security and immunity for President Aslan Maskhadov and deputies of the Parliament of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, the provision of terms for the work of President and the deputies aimed at the solution of the military and political conflict in Chechnya and the opportunity for the Chechen nation to get in touch with their representatives elected in democratic elections.
Every day people come to support Tashtamirov and as many as 500 signatures have been registered in support of his requirements thus far. „I don’t know for how long will I be able to hang it on. Maybe some 15-20 days,” Tashtamirov said.
Organisation Sintar began its active life in 1999 and for long worked without registration. Sintar's activity focused on protest actions, such as rallies and pickets. Already between 1996 and 1999 in Grozny, Tashtamirov initiated opposition meetings in the centre of Grozny.
Last year, Sintar organised a hunger strike in a refugee camp in Ingushetia. Refugees themselves took part in the action - at the beginning there were 11 of them, then they were joined by another 26. Well-known Russian human rights activist Alexandr Lyuboslavski took part in that hunger strike as well.
On the initial day of the hunger strike, numerous Chechen organisations supported Tashtamirov. On September 26, Chechen NGOs and public figures set up political coalition "National Unity", which comprises the Anti-War Congress, Institute “Lamast”, Chechen Committee of National Salvation, Independent Consultative Council and others.
Murad Nashkhoyev, a "For Human Rights" journalist, said: "The principal goal of the establishment of our coalition is an effort to unite ourselves. All we are different people and neither the spheres of operation of our organizations always correspond. However, we have something in common. And that is the desire to help our country and our people."
The initiative of Chechen human rights activists was also supported by many Russian politicians and public figures. According to Salambek Maigov, co-director of the coalition and leader of the Anti-War Congress, official agreement to become the head of the supervisory council of the "National Unity" was expressed by Ivan Rybkin, former Russian Parliament speaker and an active supporter of talks between the conflicting sides in Chechnya.
On October 10, a meeting between citizens and leaders of various organizations and politicians from Russia is planned to take place in the “Rassvyet” refugee camp. Ruslan Badalov, the chairman of the Chechen Commitee of National Salvation, said that among those who agreed to participate in the meeting are Arkady Volski, President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Businessmen, and Evgeny Primakov, President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and former Russian Prime Minister.
Ingush authorities are not much willing to give the green-light to the event. Lema Shakhbulatov, co-chairman of the coalition and leader of cultural and political institute "Lamast", was already summoned for interrogation by the police. On October 3, in relation to the hunger strike, he was approached by Mr. Gandaloyev, deputy head of the administration of the Sunzhenski district in Ingushetia, where the camp is located. According to Shakhbulatov, Mr. Gandaloyev was interested in the question "who has permitted the event" and expressed dissatisfaction with the absence of official permission. "However, we will continue in spite of anything," Shakhbulatov stated.
(Ka,T) |
