Russia's Minister for North Caucasus criticizes writing off Checnya gas debts

Chechen leadership’s approach to addressing the issue of writing off gas debts in court is not correct, Russian Minister for North Caucasus Affairs Sergei Chebotarev said.

"I’m aware of the Chechen leadership’s arguments and why it is trying to resolve the problem in such a cardinal way. However, this approach does not look correct to me. A dispute between economic entities is not something out of the ordinary, but still such matters are beyond the range of competences of a district court," TASS cited him as saying.

The minister recalled that there are local groups managing the fuel and energy complex, which the regional leaders are in charge of. "That’s where the corresponding decisions are to be made. That’s the place where disputes are to be taken instead of litigation in district courts," he believes.

"Grozny argues that the mammoth retail debt was accrued during the second military campaign. When the war was over, the Chechen authorities suddenly discovered that the retail consumers owe an awful lot for gas. Then there followed speculations about the statute of limitations, which had long expired," Chebotarev added.