Ivan Kovalyov, Prime Minister of the Stavropol Territory, addressed the Terskoye Cossack Force which filed a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin complaining about money, property and authority last week. The letter was initiated by the head of the force Sergey Klimenko. Regional authorities asked for at least 100,000 hectares of land for Cossacks in the North Caucasus, a state package of Kavminkurortresursy and the Kizlyar Cognac Factory.
Alexander Yakushev, head of the regional committee for nationalities, said that the processes were bothering the Cossack community.
Alexey Vlasov, Editor-in-Chief of Vestnik Kavkaza, said that wiser Cossacks had pointed out the absurdity of the demands. The harsh reaction of the local prime minister was explainable, because the position of Cossacks determined development of the region. “Protectors” of the Cossacks were causing intrigues to start a conflict of Cossacks and the government.
