Grozny residents report gas disconnection for debts

Since today's morning, the Lenin District of Grozny is raided by workers of gas and utilities services who try to collect debts from consumers, as residents of the Chechen capital report. After making checks, debtors are cut off from gas supply lines.

"From morning, we're raided by employees of public utilities and gas companies. They visit household after household and demand to pay debts for the consumed gas. Those who have large debts are disconnected. I partially repaid the debt last month; and today I was again ordered to pay the debt on the spot," Magomed U., a resident of the Lenin District of Grozny, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. "I can't do it now; and they cut off the gas supply. Several more houses in our street have faced the same."

"My wife is in hospital after a car accident; therefore, I couldn't pay the debt, although I had intended to. I explained my situation, and I was given three days to pay off a part of the debt of 36,000 roubles, promising otherwise to disconnect me from the gas supply. Now, I'll have to urgently borrow money to pay off, because I have five children," said Islam B., a local resident.

The Ministry of Housing and Communal Services of Chechnya has stated that the measures to collect debts from consumers will continue until the payment level for utility services reaches at least 95 percent.