Power specialists switch off 598 consumers in Chechnya for their debts

On August 26-27, in the Argun District of Chechnya, 598 customers, who had huge debts for electricity bills, were cut off the grid. Their total debt amounted to more than 5 million roubles, said the spokesman of the Ministry of Housing and Utilities of Chechnya. Locals treat such measures as "excessive."

According to the above Ministry, tours with the aim to collect utility debts will continue and cover all the districts of the republic.

In his turn, the spokesman of the "Chechenenergo" Company said that large debts for consumed electricity are typical not only in the Argun, but also in other districts of the republic.

Residents of Chechnya note that they are cut off from power supplies for debts "without a word."

"But for some reason, neither energy, nor gas and nor water suppliers have questions to big bosses, who live in huge 2-3-storey houses. We have hundreds of such 'privileged' residents in our republic. They generate most of the debts," said Askhab, a resident of Chechnya.

"Prior to demand money for utility services, they'd have cared that people have jobs, or timely receive their pensions and benefits, to be able to pay part of their money as taxes," said Aymani, a woman from the city of Argun.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.