Direct bus service from Chechnya to Germany launched

A regular direct bus service between Chechnya and Germany was opened from March 12, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told at the Ministry of Transports of the republic.

"On March 12, the first passenger bus took off from Grozny to the German city of Aachen. A flight to Bonn is scheduled for March 14," said the ministry official, adding that the opening of these routes was a result of the arrangement reached by the Chechen Ministry of Transports with the German company "KVN – International Transportations".

Buses to Aachen and Bonn will depart from the central bus station in Grozny at 7:00 p.m. once a week each. The ticket costs 7000 roubles, the "Grozny-Inform" reports.

The fact that the buses will run twice a week is a big benefit for those who plan to come from Europe to Chechnya, said Isa T., a resident of Chechnya.

"I have friends living in France; last year they came to visit me. They went back by the bus that goes from Grozny once every two weeks. I remember the huge crowd of passengers, although tickets had been sold in advance; and the driver said that he would not start, until all passengers were in place," he said.

Over a hundred thousand natives of Chechnya now lives in Europe, said the local department of the Federal Migration Service. The Chechen population in Germany is estimated as 15-25 thousand; that in Norway and the Czech Republic as about 10-12 thousand each; in France – from 5 to 7 thousand; in Austria – 12-14 thousand, and in Belgium – 15-17 thousand.