| Caucausus Times 23 August 2003 Angry demonstrators protests in Groznyy Angry locals of Vedeno district have staged a demonstration and keep on protesting for seven days in the Chechen capital. Since the early morning of August 22, about 300 demonstrators have gathered in Groznyy before the republic government office, mainly the inhabitants of Vedeno district, demanding to find and to set free three men detained on August 13 in Khatuny. The three electricians, Vakha Hagayev, Sultan Abubakarov, Hassan Ealbuzdukayev while installing electricity for the village were reportedly abducted by Russian troops. Thus far, neither local authorities, nor the Russian militaries to report the detainees whereabouts. Therefore, since August 13, the people are picketing daily the government building, make futile efforts to inform the authorities. "On August 21, Col. Sultan Satuyev, the deputy Interior minister of the republic came to the site to see what was going on," told a protester Abubakyr Alimsultanov. "He got out his car examined us and said in sarcastic tone, "What a great show you're staging here?" If he had not his numerous guards, the angry women would have probably torn into him. The folks are in distress and this man appointed to protect people from criminals, whoever they might be, Russian servicemen or Chechen bullies, affronted the people". "This is not a Maskhadov's loyalists rally, neither it is a paid off action," said Medina Mamedova, a local woman of Vedeno region. "We are in despair, we just came out to demand this unabated violence and abuses to be stopped. No elections in Chechnya until the men and women are being killed, abducted and disappeared in here!" The protesters affirm, they are not going to give the ground and are ready to go ahead, until the authorities and Russian militaries will keep their pleges and set the abducted electricians free. Ruslan Adayev, Chechnya Caucasus Time |