Residents of Makhachkala achieved a response from officials regarding the broken road.
After the resonance in social media due to the broken roadway of Sochinskaya Street in Makhachkala, where several wheelchair users live, the utility workers filled the holes and bumps with gravel, but this did not solve the problem, local residents noted. An activist reported that the authorities of Makhachkala promised to repair this road, and a lawyer pointed out the violation of the rights of the disabled.
As reported by "Caucasian Knot", a resident of Makhachkala filmed a video about the bad road on Sochinskaya Street, where several wheelchair users live, and published the clip on social media. She stated that three residents of an apartment building, who move in wheelchairs, face difficulties due to the poor condition of the road and the lack of a convenient approach to the house. Residents of Makhachkala, commenting on the publication on social media, called on officials to repair the road.
Utility workers filled the holes and bumps with gravel after the resonance in social media
The roadway of Sochinskaya Street is in very poor condition, complained a resident of this street Zumrud, whose child is disabled. "We cannot get to school properly every day. There are also other wheelchair users living in the house. Neighbors help them get out of the house and bring them back in," she told a correspondent of "Caucasian Knot".
After the rain, it is impossible to drive or walk on the road, cars often get stuck. It is very difficult to reach the clinic or the store. Ambulances struggle to reach the residents of the street. Due to the poor road, people sometimes have to postpone trips to doctors and delay other matters, Zumrud added.
Last year, residents went to meet with officials in the Makhachkala administration, where they were promised that the road would be repaired by the end of 2025, but nothing has changed, she noted.
"We are currently collecting signatures to submit an official repeated request to the city hall," said a resident of Makhachkala.
After the publication of the video about the bad road on social media, some holes in the road were filled with gravel, but this is not enough, another local resident Nurijat reported. She clarified that she filmed the video.
"As soon as the rains start, the mud will appear again. There are two small children living in the house, they are wheelchair users, and there is also an elderly man – a disabled person. They experience great inconvenience in moving. In a few days, when we collect the signatures, we will file an official complaint with the city administration," she told a correspondent of "Caucasian Knot".
Officials promised to put the roadway on Sochinskaya Street in order after the publication of a complaint on social media about its poor condition, reported the head of the human rights project "Monitoring Accessible Environment" Sabrina Alieva.
"I passed the information to the first deputy who oversees this area. He said that in the coming days they will fill everything in and put the street in order," she told a correspondent of "Caucasian Knot".
Activists have won court cases regarding accessible environments for the disabled. In some cases, the issue was resolved out of court after complaints were filed, noted the head of the "Housing and Utilities Monitoring" project Ziyaudin Uvaisov.
In his Telegram channel, he provided an example of how one of the residents of Makhachkala achieved road repairs.
"Magomed did not endure, he turned to us. We sent complaints to the authorities. The results were not long in coming – the road began to be repaired. This is not a coincidence and not 'luck'. This is the result of a person choosing to act. One well-written complaint can initiate change," the publication stated.
The lawyer pointed out the violation of the rights of the disabled
The lack of a proper road on the street where wheelchair users live is a violation of federal legislation, which may lead to lawsuits against officials and the imposition of fines, pointed out lawyer Rustam Akhmedov.
The right to unhindered access to social infrastructure facilities is enshrined in the Federal Law "On Social Protection of Disabled Persons in the Russian Federation". It states that organizations must provide conditions for the disabled to have unhindered access to infrastructure facilities, including stops and residential areas, the lawyer explained.
Moreover, according to the Federal Law "On Automobile Roads", local government bodies are responsible for ensuring that local roads meet established requirements, including accessibility for people with limited mobility, he continued.
"Failure by officials to fulfill their duties to create an accessible environment entails administrative responsibility. For these violations, disqualification of officials for a period of 6 months to 2 years is provided, as well as fines for organizations," Akhmedov told a correspondent of "Caucasian Knot".
If a causal link is established between the lack of an accessible road and harm caused to the health of a disabled person, for example, as a result of a fall, this may become the basis for a claim for damages in accordance with Articles 1069 and 1071 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation.
A disabled person also has the right to file a lawsuit to recognize the inaction of the administration as illegal and to request that violations be rectified – in this case, to repair the road. The lawsuit can demand compensation for moral damages in accordance with Article 151 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation, noted the lawyer.