Mass Demonstrations In Dagestan (Russian Fed.); Blackouts Widen In -15C Cold

[hatrack]

Thousands have taken to the streets of the Dagestani capital, as widespread power outages continued across the region. As the Kavkazsky Uzel (Caucasian Knot) Information Agency reported, demonstrators blocked traffic in the city center, and built barricades, even as temperatures reached negative 15 degrees Celsius.

Participants told reporters that they are preparing an appeal to President Vladimir Putin, and are calling for the retirement of both the city and regional leadership. Makhachkala’s mayor, Said Amirov, accused city residents of political provocation.

Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations has stepped in with an urgent warning of possible failures in the public utility systems of Dagestan, as well as the electrical grid. Frequent power cuts have shaken the region since late December.

On January 13th, the agency’s regional head, Murtuzali Gadzhiev, announced the launch of a formal investigation into the recurrent outages, RIA Novosti reported.

EDIT

http://www.theotherrussia.org/2008/01/14/demonstrations-continue-amid-energy-crisis-in-dagestan-investigation-launched/

[GliderGuider]

1. Dagestan is one more piece in the global energy shortage jigsaw puzzle.

When we get the whole puzzle assembled, with each piece representing an energy-depleted part of the Earth, it's going to look like this: