GROZNY -- Islamic leaders in Russia's Chechen Republic are calling for a complete ban on alcohol, RFE/RL's North Caucasus Service reports.
This month, Moscow-backed Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov promised to undertake "urgent measures to save the republic from the possible collapse caused by alcohol consumption."
Some 42 liquor stores have been shut down in the Chechen capital, Grozny, so far in February.
Chechen Tax Committee head Islam Vazarkhanov told RFE/RL that liquor stores should be open only three hours a day.