The head of Chechnya started off with the most important thing – security, explaining how, with the support of the President, international terrorism has been eradicated in the Chechen Republic. Today, security issues have ceased to be pressing, and the main issues now are the development of the economy and social sphere. Compared to 2020, there are positive dynamics in the main socioeconomic indicators.
Ramzan Kadyrov also said that coronavirus is under control in the republic, despite the slight uptick in daily infections. There is an adequate supply of testing systems, protective equipment, medicine and hospital beds. In case of critical need, it is possible to deploy over 2,000 additional beds with oxygen within 24 hours without interrupting planned treatment. Vaccination is proceeding at a good pace, though there was a shortage of vaccines last week, to which he drew the President's attention.
The head of Chechnya also said that an important event awaits the Chechen Republic this year – multi-level elections, including the election of the head of the Republic. The region is fully prepared for this.
However, Ramzan Kadyrov noted that there are issues that need presidential support, for which written requests have been submitted, and he asked the President to issue corresponding instructions to the Government.
Vladimir Putin said that he had reviewed the requests and letters from the republic, noting that, in the most important areas, Chechnya is moving in the right direction: industrial output, agriculture and the population are growing, which means that the situation is improving.
Still, there are matters that require additional attention from the Head of the Republic and the President of Russia, as well as the Government; in particular, the availability of social institutions, including preschools, remains below the national average. There are corresponding programmes, and the President promised to ask the Government to look into this and increase support for the constituent entities of the Federation such as the Chechen Republic, for example, in the sphere of individual housing construction and other social issues.
The President also noted problems such as shortages of doctors and the situation on the labour market and expressed hope that as the economy grows and investment projects are implemented, employment, wages, and income in the republic will improve as well.
Vladimir Putin enumerated the good investment projects, including the construction of the all-purpose Akhmat Tower, bringing in 4,000 new jobs and a sizable investment in the amount of 66 billion rubles, a 9-billion-ruble cement production facility with 150 jobs, the 8.5-billion-ruble Grozny Mall, a 7.5-billion-ruble battery production plant, and greenhouses. All these are major investments, which will create jobs and raise wages, in addition to changing the structure of the republic's economy. The President promised to forward the requests from the republic to the Government with appropriate instructions.
Overall, the President said, with the personal engagement of Ramzan Kadyrov, Chechnya has become one of Russia’s safest regions. This was made possible by the courage and patience of the Chechen people, and the fact that many complex challenges have been mostly overcome. The Chechen people endured many trials, even suffering at times, and made their choice.
Vladimir Putin underscored that Ramzan Kadyrov and the first President of the Chechen Republic Akhmat-Khadzhi Kadyrov have played a direct role in making good on the choice of the Chechen people. Much has been accomplished and more needs to be done. The President said that the Head of Chechnya is effective and knows the republic intimately and that he believes Mr Kadyrov should run again in order to continue his work, and wished him every success.