Apaev claims corruption has permeated all spheres of life in Chechnya

The scale of corruption in the Chechen Republic is so serious that it will require drastic measures and serious efforts from the authorities, states Aslambek Apaev, expert of Moscow Helsinki Group on North Caucasus. Some local residents agree with him.

"Corruption in our republic, like in all Russia, is very serious. Corruption has permeated virtually all spheres of life and, in my view, in order to fight it the authorities need to apply strict and radical measures", states  Aslambek Apaev.

According to Apaev, the problem is in that the victims of corrupt officials or the citizens "from whom the dishonest officials extort bribes", as a rule, do not file written complaints.

"Many local residents come to me, as a human rights activist, with complaints about extortion. For instance, militiamen whom their chiefs wanted to pay them 50 percent of what they call "battle payments". Or persons who were to receive a legitimate compensation for the housing destroyed in the course of military operation, whom officials wanted to pay them at least 30 percent of the amount. (Compensation to the victims for their housing and property destroyed in the course of military operations in Chechnya  is 350,000 rubles)", he says.

According to Tabarik Gagaeva, resident of Grozny, she has received no legitimate compensation for the housing and property destroyed in the course of military operations only because she refused to "share" part of it with officials.