05 June 2004 11:18
Russia: Five hunger-strike businessmen demand Kalmyk president`s resignation
[Correspondent] Yekaterina Kovalevskaya of Russia and Antoaneta Stefanova from Bulgaria are in the finals of the
Women's World Chess Championship [being held in the Kalmyk capital, Elista]
However, today the main intrigue of the tournament lies elswhere. Five people have announced an indefinite hunger
strike in Chess City [a small town especially built for the tournament]. There is a large placard in the hunger
strikers' room calling for the resignation of Kalmyk president [Kirsan Ilyumzhinov].
[Basan Gorodovikov, captioned as participant in the hunger strike] Doctors ask us why we are doing this and how long
it will continue. We are being told that we are injuring our health. Only when we go into a coma will you treat us.
[Correspondent] The hunger strikers say that the chess tournament in Kalmykia is being held with money collected
forcibly from entrepreneurs. Many enterprises, including petrol stations and markets, are forced to pay money
tributes.
[Vladimir Bambayev] The president's brother, Vyacheslav Nikolayevich Ilyumzhinov, summoned me. They tried to get
R50,000 [around 1,700 dollars] from me. I got away with R5,000. People are afraid. Tomorrow they may lose their
business. Persecutions may start, as is usually the case.
[Correspondent] Vladimir Bambayev's shopping centre was closed when he refused to pay the chess tribute money.
Places for new participants in the hunger strike are being organized there now.
[Passage omitted]
[RTR Russia TV] |
RUSSIA IN FACTS
