Moscow plans to increase spending on Chechnya's recovery

The Russian government plans to increase spending on the recovery of Chechnya to almost 30 billion rubles ($1 billion) in 2002, Russian agencies reported on 19 April. Meanwhile, President Putin held a meeting the same day to discuss providing more prompt payment for Russian soldiers in the republic, Interfax reported (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 17 April 2001). After the meeting, officials said that Moscow will increase the premium such soldiers receive by 50 percent. PG
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