Putin Vows to Solve Wage Arrears of Troops in ChechnyaRussian President Vladimir Putin vowed to sort out wage arrears of troops serving in Chechnya during his Saturday inspection of the breakaway republic, according to the state-run RTR television."We will examine the situation here, on the spot," Putin said. "Based on this, we will make appropriate decisions." According to the President, improved financial and material support to Russian troops as well as timely payment of military allowances are among the problems he was planning to solve during the Chechen visit. The President also condemned the killing of Deputy Head of the Chechen administration Shamalu Deniyev on Friday, urging a thorough investigation into the case. Putin, accompanied by Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov, Interior Minister Boris Gryzlov and Mass Media Minister Mikhail Lesin, inspected Russia's main military base of Khakala outside the capital city of Grozny and met with the heads of Chechen local administrations. Before flying to Chechnya by helicopter, Putin visited the highland 776 in the neighboring republic of Dagestan, where 84 Russian paratroopers died in a battle with Chechen rebels a year ago. Putin laid flowers at the highland, the RTR said. |
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