1.7.2003

Hunger strike suspended

Tbilisi, GEORGIA.

Chechen refugees living in Pankisi Gorge, Georgia, stopped their hunger strike on June 30. The hunger strike lasted 40 days.

The displaced Chechens urged the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to improve their living conditions and increase the scope of humanitarian aid. The protest action was initiated by Baudin Itayev and Ibragim Sardalov, chairman and deputy chairman of the Committee of Chechen Refugees in Georgia respectively. Sixteen people participated in the hunger strike. The participants in the action claimed the UNHCR has failed to perform humanitarian duties as the agency has not responded to the refugees’ demands. According to Baudin Itayev, the hunger strikers will hold a roundtable in Tbilisi in the next few days with participation of international organizations, including UNHCR, Georgian and Chechen human rights advocates, public figures and journalists. If the situation does not change for the better and the planned dialogue with UNHCR yields no result, the action of protest will be resumed.

PRIMA News Agency[2003-06-30-Georgia-03]