Nalchik: hearing on non-payment for overtime militiamen's work starts

Today, the Nalchik City Court, presided by Federal Judge Aslanbek Zhigunov, has started consideration of the suit of 84 militiamen of the Terek District of Kabardino-Balkaria against the Republic's Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) on collection from the latter of salaried for overtime work, work on weekends and holidays and other mandatory payments stipulated by Russian legislation.

The claimants told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that they represent different services of district militia - PSS (patrol-sentry service), TCF (temporary custody facility, also known as "IVS")), STSI (State Traffic Safety Inspectorate, also known as "GIBDD"), district militiamen and even the militia logistics support service. According to their version, the orders on additional payments for their service in strengthened regime issued since 1997 were kept secret from them.

After filing a suit, they began feeling pressure. "I worked as assistant of district militia officer, and after a request arrived to the ROVD (District Militia Division) from the advocate about my wages, I was transferred into the PSS," said Liuan Bzhebakhov. Another claimant - Anatoly Gedgagov - was transferred from logistics support service also to the PSS.

According to militiamen, the Terek District borders on Ingushetia, where the tense situation preserves for a long time, and many of them have to take their service on the border, being exposed to high risk. "Under the law on militia, or service record time should be counted as 1.5 years for every year of service, but this ids also not done," said one of the claimants.

See earlier report: "Woman from Kabardino-Balkaria complains of blackmailing by militiaman".