30 May 2004 18:58
RUSSIA: KHAKASIA GOVERNMENT STEPS IN TO END MINERS` HUNGER STRIKE
The administration of the Republic of Khakasia has released 6.5 million rubles ($217,000) to pay six months of back
wages to a group of coal miners who have been on a hunger strike for 10 days, ITAR-TASS and other Russian media reported
on 27 May, citing republican Deputy Prime Minister Valerii Shavyrkin. Shavyrkin told strikers that the money will be
paid on 28 May. "The government believes it is its moral duty to do that," he said. As of 27 May, 156 miners
were still hunger striking, and 24 had been hospitalized. On 26 May, miners rejected as "an insult" an offer
by mine owner Anatolii Makhmudov to pay 40,000 rubles against the debt. Miners' leader Vyacheslav Bondarenko said
the strike will end when the money has been received. Newsru.com reported on 27 May that 269 of the mine's 389
employees have been informed that they will be laid off as of 23 August, but an administration official said that the
layoffs are not connected to the strike. RC Copyright (c) 2004. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty
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