Dagestan human rights activists and journalists invite the population of the republic to a meeting

On September, 14, a press-conference was held in Makhachkala on the initiative of human rights activists, layers and journalists of Dagestan. The initiators reported of a meeting planned for September, 21 where demands to force structures to stick to lawfulness and stop their practice of kidnapping would be moved forward.

According to Isalmagomed Nabiev, one of the participants of the conference and Chairman of Independent drivers' and entrepreneurs' trade union of Dagestan, the main goal of the action would be to draw the population's attention to a complicated situation in the republic.

Nabiev said to a reporter of "Caucasian Knot": "About fifty militia men and gunmen have perished during the last month only. But this situation gives the members of the top brass no right to use illegal methods in their work when special operations result in kidnapping. The state cannot act similarly with the gangsters but it happens regularly in reality".

He remarked that arrested persons are often deprived of meeting with their attorneys and the latter themselves become victims of attacks of people wearing shoulder straps.

Journalists of the leading mass media of the republic, layers and human rights activists have taken part in the conference. Zarema Gasanova, a journalist of the Republican state broadcasting company "Dagestan" and Svetlana Isayeva, Head of Non-governmental Human Rights Organization "Mothers of Dagestan for Human Rights" have been moderators of the action.