In Makhachkala, Afghan war veterans demand to provide them with housing

Today, in Makhachkala, about 25 participants of the war in Afghanistan have gathered and threatened the authorities with a hunger strike. They recall that they have been expecting housing from the state for many years.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on February 15, on the day of the 30th anniversary of the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan, a rally was held in Makhachkala. At the rally, Zurab Bagomedov, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Development, stated that about 400 Afghan war veterans had already received subsidies, and the authorities were planning to improve housing conditions for other 60 families of Afghan war veterans in 2019.

Today, about 25 Afghan war veterans "from all over Dagestan" have gathered in the Internationalist Warriors' Park in Makhachkala. They voiced their dissatisfaction with the fact that the authorities did not solve their housing problems, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Shamil Khadulaev, the executive committee head of the regional branch of the Russian Union of Afghan War Veterans.

The gathered Afghan war veterans voiced a decision to start a hunger strike, said Shamil Khadulaev. "People are serious about that. Today, they have started preparations for a protest action, and they are installing tents. It is decided to start a hunger strike tomorrow. The protest action will be held in the Internationalist Warriors' Park in tents," Shamil Khadulaev reported.

He explained that Afghan war veterans were tired of waiting for the promised housing. "People have been waiting for the promised houses for decades. Every time the power changes, the promises are made, but the problem has not been solved so far," said Shamil Khadulaev.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on August 2, 2019 at 01:13 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.