"Khasse": all villages of Kabardino-Balkaria should have their mountain pastures

The public organization "Khasse" sees the solution of the land problem in Kabardino-Balkaria in enforcement of the Federal Law No. 131 "On General Principles of Local Self-Government in the Russian Federation". This was stated on January 16 by the leaders of the organizations "Khasse" Ibragim Yaganov and "Circassian Congress" Ruslan Keshev at a press conference in Nalchik.

"We believe that the authorities should turn to the historical specificity of our region: all the villages, irrespective of nationalities and locations ever had their mountain pastures," said Mr Yaganov and emphasized that animal husbandly as branch of agriculture cannot exist without these lands.

"The offered rental relations aren't serious. Private property is the most efficient property; it was proved by the global practice," the leader of the "Khasse" has emphasized.

Ruslan Keshev also believes that the land problem should be settled in strict conformity with Federal Law No. 131 and Definition of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation of April 3, 2007, where Point 1 runs: "There should be no inter-village territories in Kabardino-Balkaria." "We support this point," Mr Keshev has emphasized.

He has also added that the Law was not always followed in the republic. "Mountain pastures in the Chegem, Cherek and Elborus Districts were delivered without any 'public analysis' and 'conciliation procedures'. The legislation, in particular, Law No. 131 and the above Definition of the Constitutional Court, were ignored; and we cannot agree with it," said Mr Keshev.