Scandal at CSPI on extortions to Akhmad Kadyrov Foundation

The dean of the Chechen State Pedagogical Institute (CSPI) in Grozny extorted bribes from students on the pretext of the need to invest money to the Public Foundation named after Akhmad Kadyrov.

The Chechen MIA asserts that the dean's actions are investigated. "For extortion of money from students the dean of the CSPI may face criminal prosecution. The facts are checked," a source from the MIA told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to the HRC "Memorial", in late April the Institute bosses demanded 10,000 roubles from each full-time graduate student. According to students, they were assured that the money will go to the fund the institute, and then - to the "needs of the republic." In return, they were promised "easy" passage of state examinations. The money was due by May 1. The vast majority of students decided to pay.

However, some of the students orally addressed representatives of the Inter-Regional Free Trade Union of Students (in the city of Voronezh). The unionists wrote letters to the CSPI and the Ombudsperson in the Chechen Republic. The institute bosses denied the information about extortions. According to the students, after the information was disclosed, the CSPI staff began explaining that the money had been raised for the head of the republic Ramzan Kadyrov, who demanded 500,000 US dollars from the Rector, the HRC "Memorial" reports.

After that, the institute was checked. According to students, on May 16, the dean of one of the departments was summoned to the prosecutor's office. Besides, they argued that there was a video, showing girls-students paying the money. The video was also handed over to prosecutors.

In their turn, the staff of the Rector's Office and certain deans asked students to declare that they had voluntarily given money for the good of the republic. This suited a number of students, who decided to pay, fearing that otherwise they would fail at the exams.

Meanwhile, the head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov reacted to this situation by touching the topic of extortions at the CSPI at his meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Isa Tumkhadjiev.

"Hiding behind my name, allegedly for the needs of republic's restoration, one of the deans of the Institute extorted money from students," the press service of the head and government of Chechnya quotes Mr Kadyrov as saying. He called students to report to law enforcement bodies about any attempt of teachers to receive any bribes and ordered Tumkhadjiev to take necessary measures to eradicate bribery.

Students of the CSPI told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent the details regarding extortion of money from them.

"Money was really extorted from us; and it was done not by one of the teachers, but the dean of our department," said aCSPI student named Kheda. "It was done quite openly."

"There are specific rates for every pass or exam. Everyone got used to it; students are even ashamed not to pay their teachers. But we did not know about our must to raise money to the Kadyrov Foundation. In our republic people are constantly talking that heads of ministries, agencies and organizations must every month transfer certain amounts to that Foundation. Thus, I don't exclude that the dean had really raised money for this fund, but the case became widely known; and the leadership of the republic had to react," a CSPI student, who asked not to mention his name, was convinced.

As reported by one of local observer, the system of extortions and bribes has already been established in Chechnya. "Where does the Akhmad Kadyrov Foundation take billions for various rehabilitation actions from? If you believe our media, all the construction and reconstruction works in Grozny, Gudermes and Argun are funded exclusively for this Foundation. In fact, virtually all the people are donating to it; money is withheld even from children's allowances, pensions and wages. This strengthens the population's belief that these requisitions are made with the knowledge of the Chechen leadership," said the source.