Monday, February 13, 2012

Russia

Chechen Parliament Approves Ramzan Kadyrov As Premier

Chechen Prime Minister Ramzan Kadyrov (file photo) (ITAR-TASS)

March 4, 2006 -- The Moscow-backed parliament of Chechnya today unanimously approved the appointment of Ramzan Kadyrov as the republic's prime minister.

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March 04, 2006

Kadyrov replaces Sergei Abramov, under whom he had served as deputy premier.

Chechen President Alu Alkhanov said Abramov, who was badly injured in a car accident earlier this winter, had resigned due to health concerns.

The new premier is the son of Akhmad Kadyrov, the Kremlin-backed Chechen president who was assassinated in 2004.

Ramzan Kadyrov also heads a shadowy security force widely alleged to commit abductions and abuse of civilians.

In other developments, three Russian soldiers have reportedly died in a clash with Chechen separatists when they stumbled upon the rebels' forest camp in the Kurchaloi region, east of the capital, Grozny.

(AP, ITAR-TASS)

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