Commentators, amid reports of raids on Chechen markets, reported price gouging by wholesalers.

Wholesale suppliers are jacking up food prices during Ramadan, and stores and businesses are being forced to increase prices, commentators said in response to reports of government raids on Chechen markets.

As "Caucasian Knot" reported, prices are rising again before Ramadan in both markets and stores, social media users pointed out in early February. They noted that the food prices published by the official Chechen publication do not correspond to reality. Chechen authorities' reports on food price controls have had virtually no impact on the situation in stores and markets, users noted on February 18. Low-income residents of Grozny, including pensioners and teachers, reported that they are struggling to find money for groceries at the start of Ramadan amid rising prices. Residents of rural areas with their own farms have an easier time providing for themselves, but prices for basic groceries in local stores have also increased.

Employees of the Security Council of the Chechen Republic, as well as representatives of city halls and district prefectures, held a series of educational events with entrepreneurs. During the meetings, information was conveyed about the unacceptability of inflated prices for essential goods, and the consequences of violating the law were explained.

All commercial entities were served official notices of administrative liability. If instances of artificial price increases are detected, violators will be subject to measures in accordance with current Russian legislation, including fines and other legal restrictions.

The Grozny City Hall has appealed to all businesses to take a responsible approach to pricing and avoid creating a threat of social unrest. Residents can report instances of unjustified price increases through official feedback channels, which will allow for prompt responses to violations and maintain food availability for all residents.

A "Caucasian Knot" reader with the nickname reena reported one such visit. "According to a business acquaintance from Shatoi, she, like other store owners, was warned that if food prices were raised unjustifiably, she would be fined, and her goods would be confiscated and distributed to the poor. Moreover, the business owner claims that prices are rising because wholesale suppliers are inflating them. For example, a crate of eggs, which cost an average of 216-220 rubles a couple of weeks ago, is now 100 rubles more at wholesalers, and the same applies to virtually all other products. Some items have gone up by 50 rubles, others by 100 rubles or even more. Naturally, retail stores are also forced to increase prices to avoid operating at a loss," he emphasized.

Another reader called the current prices "outrageous." "We bought a little bit of everything, and in the end, a partial grocery bag (candy for tea, a couple of packs of cookies, milk, bread, two fried fish, a piece of sausage, juice for the kids, chips, and a few other small items) cost a little over 2,480 rubles. It's a complete shock. Everything has become more expensive and continues to get more expensive. How can we prepare a festive table for Eid al-Fitr under these conditions, when even a normal daily fast is becoming unaffordable?" - commented brandon.

He expressed the opinion that the republic's leadership, and the Security Council itself, headed by Kadyrov's son, Adam, "are merely simulating vigorous activity in this area, but in reality, the situation with food prices is getting worse and worse."

Deputy Mufti of Chechnya, Doctor of Islamic Sciences Din-Mukhammad Mukhtarov, noted that "the rise in food prices during Ramadan becomes especially sensitive, since food is considered a vital commodity. Deliberately raising prices during a period of general religious upsurge and increased demand is contrary to the spirit of the month."

This post on the publication's Instagram* page has garnered 14 comments. One commenter also noted that prices are being driven up by wholesalers. "I'm a store clerk, I shop at the Berkat market, and they bring us vegetables and fruits from Argun. I don't know where eggs are brought to our republic from. Two weeks ago, I bought them for 216 rubles per tray, and today they're already 335-341 rubles wholesale. Tomatoes have gone up in price everywhere by as much as 90-100 rubles. It's not the retail stores that add the prices, but those that import the goods," wrote kameta on 11.14.

As a reminder, the head of Chechnya previously threatened residents who shopped in other republics. Kadyrov's threats to confiscate food from sellers in 2025 came against the backdrop of an existing practice: previously, food was confiscated from customers buying goods outside the republic before Eid al-Fitr. Two Chechen residents reported that their cars were being searched at the border with Dagestan before Eid al-Fitr in 2024. As part of the fight against violators of the "resolution on supporting local entrepreneurship," it is said in a "Caucasian Knot" article published on March 13, 2025. The police stated that "they had orders to confiscate for the benefit of childcare facilities," but one of those interviewed, an elderly driver, managed to persuade the security forces. In another case, the security forces "pulled two boxes of chickens and one package of 30 eggs from the car." Residents of Chechnya reported similar searches at the Gerzel post in 2023. "They found fault with the chickens, saying that, they say, we are not patriots of the republic, in Chechnya they sell chickens everywhere, and you buy them in Dagestan. "In short, they confiscated the chickens," a Chechen resident quoted her neighbor as saying.