Russian government finances trips of Chechen pilgrims to Mecca

The government of the Russian Federation in February 2001 allocated a sum of money to the government of the Chechen Republic for financing the trip of pilgrims (up to 300 people) from the Chechen Republic to the holy places in Saudi Arabia. The instruction to finance this trip to a value of 11.3 million roubles was given to the Russian Finance Ministry, RIA Novosti reports. The money is allocated from the federal budget, from that part of it which is meant for financing the budgets of other levels which sponsor the implementation of the federal target programme for restoring the economy and social life of the Chechen Republic in 2001 under the item of financing other measures.