Kadyrov considers inexpedient to reduce the MIA staff in Chechnya

Chechen president Ramzan Kadyrov is in favour of preserving the staff of the republic's law enforcement bodies and cancellation of dispatching to Chechnya of militia units from other regions. At the same time, the activity of the local militia causes criticism among the population.
 
Earlier, the Russian leadership announced its intention to reduce the staff of the Chechen MIA by 20 percent. During the March 15 meeting of power structures leadership in Grozny, Kadyrov stressed that he considered it inexpedient to reduce the number of the republic's law enforcement bodies.

"It would be much more economically efficient from the point of view of saving the budget money to stop dispatching interservice units of militia from other places and ensure security of the population by the efforts of the republic's law enforcement bodies," said Kadyrov during the sitting attended by government members, heads of municipal district administrations, MIA leadership and Nikolai Simakov, head of provisional operational group of departments and units (VОGОiP).

"Chechen militiamen know all by-pass roads, mountain paths and every bush in the forest areas. They are able to conduct investigation activity on a high level. It looks as if we have to cut on well-trained staff who can handle the situation. Also, I consider it inexpedient to reduce the staff due to the high level of unemployment in the republic," stressed the Chechen leader.
 
Nikolai Simakov agreed with Kadyrov's view. "Considering the fact that the situation changes for the better, I think it is necessary to reduce the number of check-points. Previously, seven block-posts were liquidated, now we have submitted a proposal to Moscow to eliminate two more check-points," said the chief of the VOGOiP. "Today, there are 33 check-points on the territory of the republic, there are 20 operating groups and about 40 units of riot squads and interservice groups from other regions of the country in Chechnya".

A number of local observers agree with the opinion that there is no need to send to Chechnya MIA units from other regions of the country, but they lay serious claims on the local power structures.

"Trouble is that many "law enforcers" behave in the same way as at the times of Ichkeria. They take part in all kinds of "showdowns," intimidate people, extort money from them, etc. Militia is not respected today. People are afraid of them," claims representative of the Imran NGO.
 
The total number of staff in the Chechen law enforcement bodies is about 18,000 people. Additionally, there are two battalions of special task force "North" and "South" from Russian MIA internal troops consisting of former officers of the Chechen president security service and the republic's anti-terrorist centre, which are formally subordinated to the command of internal troops.