22:17, 19 October 2004

Process of submitting applications for compensation ends in Chechnya

The process of receiving citizens' applications to compensate for housing and property lost in the course of military operations is officially ending in the Chechen Republic, a republican government official told the Caucasian Knot correspondent. This process has lasted for two years, and almost everyone eligible for compensation has already filed required documents, the source said.

The sum of compensation for lost housing and property is 350 thousand rubles. But many people in the republic say they can get only 50% of this sum in fact since they have to give functionaries a half of the money they are eligible for by the law. Otherwise a man who lost housing and property risks getting nothing at all. "You either leave functionaries 50% of the sum due to you or will get nothing. Your documents can "be lost" somewhere or the commission can find a formal pretext to refuse compensation. Therefore people prefer "sharing". And what else can they do?" Arsen, a 55-year-old resident of Grozny, said.

Author: Sultan Abubakarov, CK correspondent

Source: Caucasian Knot