In Chechnya, Ramadan starts amid increase of food prices

On the eve of the holy month of Ramadan, prices for certain foodstuffs went up in Grozny, local residents report. The republic's authorities are unable to restrain food price growth, Ruslan Kutaev, the head of the Assembly of Caucasian Nations, believes.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that this year in Chechnya, the Ramadan fasting began, like in the neighbouring Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkaria and Ingushetia, on May 6.

Some local residents have noted an increase in prices for certain foodstuffs on the eve of the holy month of Ramadan.

"Theologians always say that raising prices on Ramadan is a great sin, because it creates a problem for Muslims. Here, you see, some traders decided to play as they say 'up front': some days ago, the price for beef went up at our store from 280 to 290 roubles per kilo; mutton is the same – at 400 roubles per kilo. In another store, prices for candies went up from 180 to 200 roubles per kilo. I don't understand such traders here," Magomed, a resident of Grozny, told the "Caucasian Knot".

Ruslan Kutaev believes that Chechen authorities are unable to restrain the growth of foodstuff prices. "While, according to the Koran, prices should go down in order to have more preferences from the religious viewpoint ... they actually go up; and the authorities can't do anything about it; they can't fix foodstuff prices," Mr Kutaev told the "Caucasian Knot".

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on May 7, 2019 at 04:33 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.