On his way from Dushanbe to Moscow, President Vladimir Putin stopped at a Russian military base in Mozdok to chair a meeting of North Caucasian regional leaders and Russian law enforcement spokesmen.
The President answered journalists’ questions after the meeting.
He highlighted drastic changes in Chechnya over the preceding 11 months, and thanked all those who had taken part in combating terrorists and extremists.
Mr Putin said that the Chechen leadership was facing two comprehensive problems to settle simultaneously – efforts against crime, and economic development of the republic.