Chechen authorities deny purchasing expensive cars for a special sub-unit

The authorities of Chechnya spread a statement denying having purchased Premium class cars for a recently formed sub-unit "Riot squad special battalion "Grozny". The fact of this purchase became public thanks to Rustem Adagamov (drugoi), one of the most well-known Russian bloggers, who posted photos of the cars in his LiveJournal.

In Adagamov's photos in LJ one can see Premium class cars placed on a trailer in the Moscow district of Teply Stan. On their sides there are militia colour graphics superscriptions: "Riot squad special battalion "Grozny".

"Brand-new "Mercedes" cars for a recently formed sub-unit "Riot squad special battalion "Grozny" are standing on the trailer. "Zhiguli" and "Ford" cars are unworthy of the bodyguards of high-ranking officials of Chechen Republic, it is not a masculine style, therefore the battalion was provided with "proper" cars: in Moscow E 350 4Matic model costs 2 550 000 rubles (about $85 000)", Adagamov's comment on the photos runs. 

He says that "the cost of the cars the servicemen will soon use to drive about the excellent highways of Grozny is just a bit of a grain in the cash flow Russia pays off for relative tranquility in that part of Northern Caucasus". The blogger reminded that in 2010 subvention from Federal center to the budget of the Chechen Republic was 52 million rubles which is more than 90% of the whole Chechen budget.

In addition, a video appeared later on in drugoi's blog which confirms the existence of the special battalion and the cars bought for it. The video was shot by "Chechen Republic Today" media agency and dated February, 5. The host of the show reports forming a detached battalion named "Grozny" whose task would be safeguarding high-ranking persons of the republic and suppression of delinquencies in the roads. At the end of the reel the host said: "The best staff has been taken to "Grozny" battalion. They have undergone rigorous selection and they are certainly provided with everything necessary: equipment, combat weapon, techniques and special vehicles".

The reel demonstrates cars looking very much like the ones in the photos. Head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov is examining them and reading the superscriptions on their sides.

This information has caused a broad reaction in the blogosphere. The information spread widely thanks to popularity of drugoi blogger who has 63 subscribers. In most of their comments the participants of the discussion wondered why the subsidized region was buying expensive German cars for Kadyrov's cort?ge for account of Russian citizens.

On March, 23, the next day after the information was posted, Chechen authorities declared that it was deceitful. In particular, according to an anonymous source in the Ministry of Interior Affairs of Chechnya, "all these talks have nothing to do with reality, we have not purchased expensive foreign cars".

The official of the Ministry emphasized that even if purchasing cars for fulfillment of operational tasks within the framework of the employees' authority and state financing becomes necessary cars can be bought but only the ones of makes and modifications corresponding to the staff's service duties, RIA "Novosti" reports.

Alvi Karimov, Ramzan Kadyrov's Press secretary, declared, in his turn, that he knew nothing of a new special unit. "Firstly, I have heard of existence of such a battalion in the republic for the first time! We have no "Grozny" unit here. Secondly, we do not purchase these sort of cars for the needs of the Ministry of Interior Affairs. Its personnel generally uses special purpose cars, mostly "UAZ" ones", "Moskovsky Komsomolets" quotes Karimov.

Musa Khasanov, Chief of Security service of Head of Chechen Republic, also failed to understand which particular battalion was meant, then he asked the interviewer to call back in 15 minutes after which he advised to contact Press secretary of Head of the republic.

Editor of "Chechen Republic Today" TV-channel which had broadcasted the reel said that the channel had not taken part in its shooting and the reel was just passed on to it and the inquiries should be addressed to the Ministry of Interior Affairs, "Novaya Gazeta" writes.