CHECHNYA LINKS LIBRARY

Residents of Novye Atagi block "Kavkaz" federal highway

By Lecha Sadayev

CHECHNYA – On the morning of September 16 residents of the village of Novye Atagi in Shalinsky District blocked the “Kavkaz” federal highway near the bridge across the Argun river in the neighbourhood of the village of Chechen-Aul.

More than 100 women stood on the bridge itself, blocking the traffic. They are demanding that the leaders of the republic put an end to the cruelty being wrought in the Chechen Republic by law enforcement officials.

The residents of the village decided to take this step after members of Chechen security forces carried out house-to-house searches in Novye Atagi and took away 10 young men. Their parents still have no information about what happened to them or where they were taken.

The women participating in the protest action say they do not intend to unblock the road until their sons are returned.

Because of this incident all through motor traffic is being diverted through Argun and Grozny.

Translated by David McDuff.

(MD/T)