Assault victims stage rally

People living at 6th Magistralnaya Street in Makhachkala whose houses were damaged in the 15 January assault against rebels have staged a rally in the Dagestani capital today. About 20 people went into the street in spite of the bad weather demanding that the assault damage compensation be paid out to them. The tenants have not received material aid they were promised after the assault. They hoped that representatives of the authorities would communicate with them today, but nobody came to see the rally participants. The hotel allotted to the victims for a time is not heated, the people say. They urge the authorities of Dagestan and Makhachkala to give them money at least for the first time.

A few protesters were allowed in the building of the Dagestani State Council after a while. There, a functionary promised the people that "everything will be settled" and said that they were ready to help with provisions. However the protesters did not succeed in finding out the post held by the man who promised to help them.

The operation to destroy rebels from the Dzhennet group, who occupied a private house, was conducted on the outskirts of Makhachkala on January 15. 16 houses were damaged during the operation, people being unable to live in them so far. The tenants were promised material aid and the assault damage compensation.