18 December 2007, 00:22
Mass detentions of residents of Gimry village underway in Dagestan
The Gimry village of the Untsukulskiy District, Dagestan, is still completely blocked; on December 16, a special operation was launched here with participation of more than 1000 employees of power agencies, united militia detachments attracted from adjacent regions.
A villager who preferred to remain anonymous has told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent about what happens in the village. Gimry is completely blocked, the neighbouring mountain heights are occupied by snipers; tanks, BMPs (infantry combat vehicles) and artillery have been deployed in the periphery of the village, and a tent camp was organized. The curfew was introduced in the village: the residents were warned that during 10 p.m. - 6 a.m. any person detected outdoor will be shot dead.
Periodically, armed persons in camouflage are holding household-per-household "zachistkas" (cleanups), the total number of detainees has already exceeded 50 persons. After checking documents and identifying personalities, most of them were released, but 10 persons are still kept at the police station.
Schools and kindergartens are closed, as parents fear that something can happen with their kids. Problems with foodstuffs have arisen. Travels outside the village are allowed only under the passes, which are issued in coordination with the militaries.
Abdullah Magomedov, head of the administration of the village of Gimry, has stated that there were strong reasons for holding the special operation, having especially noted the murder on December 10 of Gazimagomed Magomedov, Deputy of the National Assembly of Dagestan.
In his opinion, the operation can last for several months. Among the population of Dagestan, the attitude to the operation is obviously ambiguous; most of all residents are dissatisfied with the blocking of the Gimry-Chirkata tunnel, through which all the roads to the mountain areas of the Republic are passing.
We note here that no mass media representatives are let into the blocked village.
Author: Ahmednabi Ahmednabiev, CK correspondent
