Makhachkala residents called for a solution to the lack of a clinic and school in Turali.

Residents of Makhachkala's Turali microdistrict are deprived of a clinic, school, and playground, but instead of building them, officials have transferred a vacant plot of land to private hands, complained the authors of a video appeal to the authorities.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot," Makhachkala lacks parks for recreation. Residents complained in February 2023 and proposed several locations where, in their opinion, public gardens could be established. Activists from the "Our City" movement supported the residents' proposals, confirming that there are not enough green spaces. The activists pointed out that there is no longer enough space in the city for a new large park, so several mini-parks could be created.

A video appeal from residents of the Makhachkala village of Turali was published today on the "Chernovik" Telegram channel. "Residents of the village of Turali, Makhachkala, appeal to the head of Dagestan, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Dagestan, and the mayor of Makhachkala. In their appeal, they ask for attention to the problems of the village residents, the chaotic sale of village land by unknown individuals, and the lack of places where children and adults can safely relax," reads the video's caption.

The video shows about fifty men and women. One of them delivers the appeal on behalf of the crowd. The woman introduced herself as a "public representative from the Leninsky District."

"Our neighborhood is over 20 years old. The land was allocated for individual housing construction. According to the general plan that existed at the time, a lot of infrastructure was planned here. But as a result of the sales of administrative and state land by unscrupulous, dishonest people, we are now left with this land, our field, six hectares. And they managed to sell it, too, and divide it into parts," the woman says in the video.

Residents are forced to wait weeks, sometimes months, for a doctor's appointment.

When Salman Dadaev was mayor, thanks to him, a kindergarten was built in the village, the crowd noted. "We were allocated and reserved a plot for a school. The microdistrict is large; today, our population is over 20,000. We lack almost all infrastructure. We lack a school, and most of all, we lack a clinic. Because the microdistrict is large. In Reduktorny [settlement], the clinic cannot cope with the workload, and our residents are forced to wait weeks, sometimes months, for an appointment with a doctor. And they do not receive normal medical care," said a representative of the village residents.

Those gathered asked officials to explain how it was possible for "municipal land, which was allocated to people for improvement" to be sold into private hands.

"We have a friend who is planning to build. They came today and installed pipes. When we came out to say that this is our land, that we are trying to get it back, he said: "I bought it for 150 million, what should I do now?" How can you sell municipal, city land?.. Even though he "He said he was going to build a swimming pool there and a playground, but I'm convinced it's not for our children," the activist said.

Children of the neighborhood's residents are forced to play "on the road," the authors of the appeal noted. "I beg you, on behalf of the residents, to pay attention. Now that power has been centralized, it's become completely impossible to get an appointment with the mayor. I've been writing requests several times since last year to get an appointment with the mayor. I can't get in. Why can't residents get in touch with city leaders with their problems?" the woman says in the video.

We desperately need a clinic, we really need it.

The authors of the appeal asked officials to listen to them and help. "We desperately need a clinic, we really need one. We need a playground, we need a park for residents to relax. We deserve it, you understand? We do everything here ourselves – we install gas ourselves, we install water ourselves, we install electricity ourselves. We do everything ourselves, and they don't even pay attention to us. Well, at least leave us the land?" the woman said.

When the activist finished her speech, the crowd applauded. "We sign up for every word," said another woman off-camera.

As a reminder, after the New Year holidays, queues of patients formed at the reception desk of the only clinic in Kaspiysk, neighboring Makhachkala. Telegram users are outraged that the problem of Kaspiysk residents' access to free medical care has been unresolved for a long time.

Scheduling an appointment online at a Kaspiysk clinic is extremely difficult, with residents having to stand in line for hours, local residents and activists confirmed. Meanwhile, the construction of a new clinic, announced for 2025, remains stalled due to a lack of funding.