Putin's visit to Chechnya held under enhanced security measures

On December 20, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin held - in the city of Gudermes (Chechnya) - a meeting attended by federal ministers and heads of the North-Caucasian region, dedicated to the region's development. Local residents report that enhanced security measures were introduced in the city on the occasion.

The significant enhancement of security measures was also marked in the Chechen capital, in particularly, in the area of the "Grozny" airport where the aircraft with Vladimir Putin aboard arrived. Enhanced units of power agents on duty, some of whom were in civilian clothes, watched the entire route of the procession with the government delegation through the republic.

"We've never seen such an 'enhancement' as yesterday. Policemen and soldiers stood in all streets and in all yards, and sniper specialists were on duty on the roofs of the houses. The main stream of cars on the federal highway "Caucasus" was directed round about Gudermes. It seemed that the city is under siege," told Rizvan M., a resident of Gudermes, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to him, he "had not seen" such a large number of police officers and military men for ten years already.

Residents of the republic emphasize that, as a rule, arrival of delegations and single government officials in Chechnya leads to significant enhancement of security measures and, consequently, causes them serious problems.

"When any official comes to Grozny, then the police immediately cordon off entire quarters and streets. It is clear that some security measures are necessary; however, for some reason, they are brought to the point of absurdity at our place, when the police does not even allow to drive a car from a yard or urges people to bypass some quarters, despite the fact that soldiers with submachine guns are on duty at almost every step," said Adam Kh., a resident of Grozny.

The republic's law enforcement agencies have explained that significant enhancement of security measures during visits of top-ranking officials is a common standard.

"These measures are being taken around the world, not only in our country or in other Russian regions. It is clear that the situation creates some problems for local residents; however, the safety of the state's top-ranking officials is primary," stated the representative of the Chechen Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA).