17:10, 17 January 2004

Refugees in Bart camp receive ultimatum from authorities

Chechen refugees living in the Bart tent camp in Karabulak, Ingushetia, were offered to leave the camp territory within 10 days. According to camp inhabitants, such an ultimatum was presented to them by a member of the delegation that visited the Bart camp on January 10. Ingush Migration Service officials, representatives of the Moscow Working Group and administration heads of some districts of Chechnya were in the delegation. They called upon the Chechen refugees to return to their homeland and promised to settle all problems of the people voluntarily going back to Chechnya. Meanwhile, one official told the people that "measures would be taken" against those of them who would not leave the territory of the camp.

Editors note: See also the articles "Chechen refugees will possibly be evicted from three camps", "Chechen State Council intends to decide issue of tent camps in Ingushetia before March 1".

Source: Infromation Center of the Council of NGOs