15:45, 5 August 2003

Samashki village inhabitants demand to return abducted fellow-villager

August 4 in the Achkhoy-Martan region was the third day of the spontaneous meeting of Samashki village inhabitants. They blocked Rostov-Baku federal route, which lies near the village, and do not pass cars. The exception is made only for regular busses. The cause of the action of protest, in which villagers demand to stop abductions of peaceful people, was a recent unsanctioned detention of a girl living in the village.

The meeting started on August 2 after people had learnt that 17-year old Elsa Katsayeva had been taken just from her house by the Russian soldiers on four armored cars with board numbers painted over. She was driven in an unknown direction. And all who stayed in the house at that very moment were beaten.

Up till now the authorities do not interfere into the situation. The militia looks after the people holding the meeting from the outside and does not disturb them. The fate of the abducted girl remains unknown, as well as the reasons of the abduction.

People from Samashki insist they will not stop the action of protest until Elsa Katsayeva's location has been be clarified.

Source: Prague Watchdog