“ Why should I go ? I ’ ve been here for 40 years . I ’ m going to die here .” Viktor Kazachenko
Mayor Sadvokasova acknowledges that some families don ’ t want to move : “ For now we ’ re working with the families that want to resettle . It ’ s all on a voluntary basis .”
The authorities are “ open to dialogue ,” she added . In December , officials visited every home to talk to residents about their needs . They have promised that all services from schools to hospitals will be operational until the last villager agrees to leave .
Some villagers have expressed a preference for compensation but many remain opposed to leaving the place where they grew up . “ They say it affects the brain ; they say it gives people headaches ,” Raisa Kazachenko said , “ but our headache now is where we ’ re being resettled .”
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