Authorities close refugee camp in Ingushetia

On May 26, officials of the Moscow Working Group of the Russian Federal Migration Service delivered an ultimatum to Chechen refuges living in the last large tent camp Satsita, situated on the outskirts of the village of Ordzhonikidzevskaya, Ingushetia's Sunzha district. They demanded that the camp inhabitants should leave the territory of this temporary accommodation center within 5 days.

Moreover, trying to make Satsita inhabitants leave the territory of the camp as soon as possible, the authorities start taking intimidating actions openly. For instance, some 20 officers of security agencies in masks and camouflage uniform suddenly entered the camp territory on May 28. They encircled the tent in which the Idrisov family live. The military men did not introduce themselves and did not explain the reasons for such actions.

It is known that First Deputy Head of the Russian Federal Migration Service Major-General Igor Yunash signed the order on May 25 according to which the tent camp for Chechen refuges Satsita must be liquidated on June 1, 2004. Satsita inhabitants got to know about this document on May 29. As of now, approximately 150 families, consisting from 5 to 10 members each, live in Satsita.

In view of the critical situation that is arising around refugees living in the Satsita camp, Vladimir Saklein, the well-known Russian human rights activist, Council of Coordinators chairman and a board member of the Movement for Human Rights, has made an appeal to President of Ingushetia Murat Zyazikov, Acting Prosecutor of Ingushetia Mr Galayev, adviser to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Ms Gladkova, and Executive Director of the Movement for Human Rights Lev Ponomarev asking them to interfere in the situation immediately.