Women continue their protest near GikaloTimur Aliyev, North Caucasus, June 29 – A protest has been ongoing now for two days near Gikalo, a village about 5 kilometers from Grozny on the road leading to Argun.
Since June 28 about 200 women whose family members have disappeared during recent mop-up operations in Gikalo have been demanding their return, or to at least give them their bodies.
The protesters stood along the road holding up banners with slogans such as “Return Our Sons!” or “The Referendum Has Become Hell For Us.” Traffic was blocked for hours along this road, which is the main route connecting Grozny with the foothills of the Chechen mountains.
According to records of Russian human rights organization Memorial, Russian armed forces have arrested six people in a series of mop-up operations carried out in Gikalo during the month (on June 11, 13, and 21); and many people fear that two of the six may have already been killed.
The six men are Aslan Labazanov (born in 1985), Musa Aliyev (born in 1986), Khusein Kadimagomayev (born in 1983), Ahmed Ilyasov (born in 1960), Magomed Bukayev (born in 1984), and Shakhrudin Aliyev (born in 1958).
Family members and neighbors of the detainees stated that the protest will continue until their relatives are returned - either alive or dead. (D/E,T) |
