Rights defenders draw attention to land issue in Zolsky District

Over 2000 hectares of land have been transferred into the ownership of the village of Sovkhoznoye in the Zolsky District, but villagers and local authorities have no funds to develop the land; and law enforcement bodies would not prevent unauthorized land capture. Authorities of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR) should consider mechanisms for allocating funds to villagers for launching agricultural production, the Human Rights Centre of the KBR has pointed out in an appeal to the head of the republic.

In April, 2022, a conflict broke out of Sovkhoznoye villagers with tenants of surrounding lands. The villagers put obstacles to tenants; locals prevent their work, claiming that they are illegally cultivating villagers' lands. Local officials have confirmed the illegality of land use, but failed to name the timing of the transfer the land from federal to municipal ownership, villagers have complained. On May 20 and 21, despite villagers' protests, tenants began treating the surrounding fields for sowing. Villagers report that law enforcers threatened with persecutions for trying to interfere with land tenants.

The above KBR's Human Rights Centre has posted on its website an appeal to Kazbek Kokov, the head of the KBR. The villagers of Sovkhoznoye turned to human rights defenders in connection with "numerous violations in the field of land relations."

In 2022, more than 2000 hectares of land were transferred into the village ownership, but one of local residents "has arbitrarily captured the land."

The appeal states that Sovkhoznoye villagers have no chances to develop the above 2000 hectares of land. "The Human Rights Centre believes that KBR authorities must consider the issue of providing gratuitous subsidies in the amount of at least 200 million roubles," human rights defenders have stated. In their opinion, this money can be spend to buy agricultural machinery, seeds, fertilizers, and to construction of buildings for agricultural production.