IZHEVSK, March 16 - RAPSI. About 600 lawyers decided to hold a one-day strike on Friday. They refused to render legal aid at the request of inquiry bodies, preliminary investigation demanding higher salaries.

According to Galina Balasanyan, the deputy president of the republic's law chamber, Udmurtian lawyers followed the suit of their colleagues from the Perm Region and Primorye Territory, who are also holding the protest rallies today.

"Last time the assigned counsels' payment rate was adjusted in 2008. Today the sum amounts to 300 rubles a day ($10) which is also subject to taxes. If our requirements on increasing the remuneration of labor are not heard, the protests may be repeated and they will last longer than one day," Balasanyan said.