President
of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Kadyrov, good afternoon.
I asked you
to join me in this meeting because I knew you were taking part in protocol
events and meetings with our foreign guests. We agreed to see each other a long
time ago to discuss the current situation in the Chechen Republic. How are things going, Mr Kadyrov?
Head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov Kadyrov RamzanHead of the Chechen Republic : Mr President, thank you for finding time in your busy schedule. We got off to a good start this year – with major economic
indicators growing by 32 percent, industrial production increasing by 47
percent, and construction booming – it has exceeded 8 million square metres by now.
Vladimir Putin: Chechnya
broke another record here, didn’t it?
Ramzan Kadyrov: You can
say so.
Vladimir Putin: last year, you
had good indicators as well.
Ramzan Kadyrov: We were in the lead, and still are.
The region
is becoming more and more attractive to investors every year: 600 investment
projects worth 108 billion rubles are being implemented; they are expected to create
almost 10,000 jobs. I would like to note that the unemployment rate in Chechnya
has dropped to 4 percent. I promised you to reduce it to 5 percent, but we have
brought it down to 4 percent.
Mr
President, as you know, we place a special emphasis on participating in the special military operation. In total, since the beginning of the operation, Chechnya
supplied 55,500 active fighters, including 21,600 volunteers. At the moment,
there are more than 11,000 our fighters on the battlefield, including Defence Ministry
troops, the National Guard, the Akhmat special force and the combined
detachment of the Interior Ministry branch in the Chechen Republic. These
fighters fulfil their assigned missions with full dedication. For the entire
period [of the special military operation]7,540 fighters from Chechnya have
been decorated with state awards.
The Akhmat-Khadzhi Kadyrov Regional Public Foundation regularly sends humanitarian
supplies for civilians to the liberated territory. Their total contribution has
exceeded 27,000 tonnes by now. We also pay special attention to the programme
to support families of the participants in the special military operation.
Mr
President, when you visited Chechnya last year, you had an opportunity to see how
much it had changed and what we had achieved with your help. Thank you very
much.
Vladimir Putin: You know, I occasionally
think back to that working trip, and I have heartening memories of the Chechen
people who struck me as hardworking and talented. Of course, as head of the Republic, you can be pleased and proud of the results of the work accomplished in recent years. They are quite obvious, I saw them myself, it’s great.
As for your
soldiers, I have visited the training centre that you created in Chechnya. I must say that the units formed there are truly multiethnic. I saw young men arrive
from all over Russia to train at this centre, which offers top-quality training,
at a very high level, and they fight well, really well. As you know, the Chief
of the general Staff reports to me almost daily on the situation in all sections
along the line of contact. And almost every time, he mentions the fighters
trained at your centre, Akhmat members, but not only Akhmat. Men from other
regions undergo training at your centre, too, and they are fighting
brilliantly.
I am
certainly pleased with your current achievements, construction and economic growth
in general, and I am sure that the Chechen people can be proud of these
accomplishments as much as we are all proud of them. This is good.
Ramzan Kadyrov: Thank you.
Vladimir Putin: I saw the beautiful
mosque that you built – you initiated the project. As far as I can judge, it is
a perfect work of art. I am sure that people are happy to visit the mosque. I also
met the religious leaders who serve at this mosque. They are great and wise
preachers who stay current and devote themselves to God and the community with
deep sincerity and faith.
But I am
sure that you have also prepared some documents. Let’s see them.
Ramzan Kadyrov: Thank you,
Mr President, for your assessment. We will not let you down.
Vladimir Putin: I have no
doubt about it.
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