GROZNY. Nov 17 (Interfax-AVN) - The detention of the compensation payment committee's secretary Sultan Isakov is politically motivated and aimed at undermining the reputation of the Chechen authorities, the republic's Prime Minister Ramzan Kadyrov told a meeting with senior officers of law enforcement services on Friday.
"My impression is that this detention came as a kind of political action aimed at discrediting the republic's authorities. The situation with Isakov's detention is a political order. Its goal is to undermine the authority of the republic's government," he said.
"Isakov was detained without any substantial evidence that would prove his guilt one way or the other," the Chechen prime minister said.
"We are worried that an official of such high rank was detained without any preliminary investigation and evidence of his guilt, but only based on some dubious testimony given by a private individual," Kadyrov said.
The official said information available to him suggests that "this man repeatedly approached Isakov proposing a conspiracy. Isakov categorically rejected such proposals. This testimony emerged following Isakov's last refusal," he said.
"I personally stand for tight control in the sphere of compensation payments. I will do everything possible to ensure that the law is observed during all payments of compensation for destroyed houses. However, I am deeply convinced that the detention of such a high-ranking official without any solid evidence is aimed at making society think negatively about the situation in the republic. These measures are aimed against the executive branch of power in the Chechen republic," Kadyrov said.