03 August 2007, 16:28
Human rights defenders think that Chechnya's authorities want to put NGOs under tough control
On August 2, President of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov recommended all humanitarian and nongovernmental organizations, who execute their activities in the territory of the Republic, to move to its capital. Now, all the organizations are required to set up their offices and warehouses only in the capital of the Republic. Besides, registration is mandatory.
Apart from moving to Grozny, humanitarian organizations were suggested to obtain their tax registration in the Republic and to hire local residents as their employees.
Human rights activists assert that by doing so, the Chechen authorities want to put the work of NGOs under control, the "Kommersant" newspaper writes. "This is an open interference of the authorities into activities of NGOs, and assertions that removal of offices will increase tax deductions into the local budget and help to fight unemployment are just run-arounds," Ruslan Badalov, head of the human rights organization "Chechen Committee for National Salvation," has stated.
