Balkars are on hunger strike in Moscow

Representatives of the Balkar nation are on hunger strike in central Moscow for the fourth day already - since July 7. They protest against actions of the authorities of Kabardino-Balkaria, who, in their opinion, discriminate their nation in the republic.

"Hunger strike at the State Duma - is an extreme step, undertaken by Balkar activists after a series of pickets and rallies in Moscow after last October. The many-thousand-strong rallies and referenda of the Balkar people, held earlier in Kabardino-Balkaria for many years, also gave no fruit," the organizers of the action say. Besides, they have addressed their petition to Russian President Dmitri Medvedev, the "Moskovskiy Komsomolets" writes.

For the last three days nobody, except for militiamen, contacted the hunger-strikers, the "Kommersant" writes.

According to the protesters, the problem is in the Federal Law No. 131: the republic's officials would not execute it. "This Law is the best of Russia's legislation. It's really delivering the land and power to people. But to do it, we need first to take land and power away from bureaucrats. Surely, they wouldn't give them," said one of them.

On July 6, a group of Balkar women and elders, and also local Cossacks, were detained in the border of Kabardino-Balkaria with the Stavropol Territory. They were on the way to Essentuki to meet the President's Plenipotentiary in the NCFD (North-Caucasian Federal District) Alexander Khloponin, the "North-Caucasian Information Agency" reports.

After a while, transport means were provided to the Balkars; however, they failed to meet Mr Khloponin. They also went on hunger strike in Essentuki.