Chechnya introduces tougher marriage regulations

The Chechen authorities are tightened the marriage rules for the republic's citizens. Now, young people willing to get married will have to present medical certificates about absence of severe diseases.

The need to tighten the marriage rules was announced on December 25 by Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov during his meeting with local clergymen held in the Muftiate of the republic.

"Such norms (presentation of medical certificates by newlyweds, - note of the "Caucasian Knot") have long been practiced in some Muslim countries, and there is nothing shameful or blameworthy in it," said an employee of the Muftiate.

"On the contrary, given the fact that in recent years hundreds of AIDS cases have been revealed in our republic, this practice will help to keep guys and girl away from possible infection. Now, not all the HIV/AIDS patients know that they are fatally ill," the source of the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent said.

Besides, now brides and grooms will be obliged not only to present their documents to the representative of the clergy, who registers their marriage in accordance with Islamic traditions, but also to sign a special marriage certificate, also signed by the imam of the mosque. This rule is introduced with the aim to reduce the number of divorces in Chechnya.

"Today, to divorce his wife, it's enough for the husband to announce, in the presence of two witnesses, that he cancels his marriage. Usually, he bears no further obligations with respect to his former wife after divorce. Thus, many practice it so easily and break families. The presence of a marriage certificate will force him to think one hundred times before taking any radical actions. Also, our President has offered to multiply increase the amount of the dowry (the bride-price, - note of the "Caucasian Knot") for those men who marry not for the first time. This will also, in my opinion, seriously affect the problem of divorces by reducing the number of them," believes the clergyman.

According to the latest data from the Ministry of Public Health, today Chechnya officially has 1465 AIDS patients; while HIV infection was detected in 240 family couples. The annual morbidity rate increment makes over 100 persons. They also register increase of HIV patients among married couples, when the disease is diagnosed only at pregnancy. Since the beginning of this year, 56 persons have died of AIDS in Chechnya.