Karachay Elders call on for return of direct elections in Northern Caucasus

The abolition of the practice of direct elections at the republican and local levels is a restriction of the constitutional rights of residents of Northern Caucasus. This has been stated by the appeal of the Karachay Elders which became available to the "Caucasian Knot".

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in April 2013, President Putin signed the law authorizing constituent entities of the Russian Federation to abolish direct elections of leaders of regions. After that, direct elections were abolished in all the republics of Northern Caucasus, except for Chechnya.

On October 12, the "Caucasian Knot" SMS-service got a message reporting that the Karachay Elders addressed the public of Northern Caucasus with the appeal about the need to return to direct elections of heads of all levels.

Residents of the North-Caucasian republics are deprived of the fundamental constitutional right to elect leaders of regions, since the issues to appoint leaders of the republics have been resolved behind the scene for many years. This is emphasized in the disseminated document, a copy of which is available to the "Caucasian Knot".

The appeal was signed by 24 people. Its authors refer to the provisions of the Constitution of Russia, which enshrines the right of citizens to elect government bodies and bodies of local self-administration, and compare the present situation of residents of Northern Caucasus with the status of people deprived of their voting rights in the early years of Soviet power.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.