Stepashin: Kadyrov owns the whole of Chechnya

President of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov has the whole republic in his ownership. This was the comment made by Sergey Stepashin, Chairman of the Russian Federation Audit Chamber, on the data of the incomes of the President of the Chechen Republic.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Kadyrov published his incomes declaration on May 20. "In 2008, the revenues of the President of Chechnya (wages) in his basic workplace made 3.422 million roubles; he had no other incomes. The real estate status: a three-room apartment of 36 square meters and a VAZ-21053 car," runs the statement of the press service.

"Ramzan Kadyrov has the whole republic in his ownership. Therefore, you needn't worry about him," said Stepashin in his interview to the "24" news programme at the REN-TV Channel, having commented on the words of a journalist that the Chechen President has a whole fleet of expensive cars, including a Lamborghini.

Russian media also covered Mr Kadyrov's incomes report. "Ramzan Kadyrov fulfilled the instruction of his higher boss. The instruction announced by Dmitry Medvedev as the start of a new campaign against corruption. The declaration of the Chechen President became a bold-type and wide stroke across Medvedev's initiatives," the "Russian Newsweek" magazine reports.

Ordinary residents of Chechnya also expressed their bewilderment on the declaration in their conversation with the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"I think that in this case the press service has involuntarily 'got in wrong' President Ramzan Kadyrov. A three-room apartment of 36 square meters is just nonsense. Well, and, certainly, the assertions that this very flat and an old 'Zhiguli' car make the whole President's property are simply ridiculous," said a Grozny resident of 62, who preferred to remain anonymous.

"Kadyrov's collection of luxurious cars and the smart villa being built now in Tsentaroy (family village of Kadyrovs, - comment of "Caucasian Knot"), let alone many other things, are nicely know to everybody here," said the source.