MINELRES: Fwd: RFE/RL: Meskhetians protests in Moscow

[MINELRES moderator]

Original sender: Emil Adelkhanov <emil-ade@cipdd.org>


MIGRATION SERVICE HEAD SAYS MESKHETIAN TURK DIASPORA IS SUBJECT FOR
INTERNATIONAL CONSULTATIONS. Around 20 activists from the Muslim party
Vatan picketed Prosecutor-General's Office in Moscow on 13 June,
demanding a stop to what they see as the oppression of Meskhetian
Turks in Krasnodar Krai, Interfax reported (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 28
May 2002). Vatan party head Mukhammed Minachev said that the krai
legislature adopted a resolution in February that encroaches on the
Turks' civil rights and runs counter to the federal constitution.
Meanwhile, the head of the Federal Migration Service, Andrei
Chernenko, said on the same day that the situation of the Meskhetian
Turks in Russia should be the topic of international discussions,
Interfax reported. According to the agency, Chernenko said, "Georgia
should fulfill its obligations" and let those who wish return to that
country. He added that a special working group will be created within
his department to handle the issue. JAC