Putin was welcomed by Austrian President Heinz Fischer, and he is scheduled to hold talks with Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer and Austrian businesspeople.
Approximately 60 members of Austria's Chechen community gathered near the office of the Austrian president to protest Putin's visit.
Approximately 1,000 police officers on duty in Vienna to provide security for the visit, which concludes May 24.
(Interfax, AFP)
Islam In The North Caucasus
Madrasah students in Khasavyurt, Daghestan (RFE/RL file photo)
SIMMERING TENSIONS: Fatima Tlisova, former North Caucasus editor for the Regnum news agency and a former North Caucasus-based freelancer for RFE/RL, AP, and others, told an RFE/RL briefing that the Russian government is cracking down hard on mosques and Islamic organizations throughout the region.
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