Chechen refugees did not take part in elections for Russian State Duma

Refugees from Chechnya who temporary live in the villages of the Pankissi Gorge, Georgia, did not take part in the elections for the Russian State Duma on December 7.

Refugees staying in the Pankissi Gorge area do not consider themselves to be Russian citizens and thereby do not take part in the elections, chairman of the Chechen International Human Rights Committee Aslanbek Abdurzakov told journalists. According to him, Russian authorities did not take any steps to change the situation. They even did not offer their citizens - Chechen refugees staying in Georgia - to take part in the voting.

About 4 thousand Chechen refugees stay in the villages of the gorge now. They did not take part in the October election of the Chechen President either.