Chechnya will be given largest autonomy allowed by Russian and Chechen constitutions

Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that the Chechen republic will be given the largest autonomy allowed by the Russian and Chechen constitutions.

When speaking at the Russia-EU summit in St Petersburg, the Russian leader informed that a federal law is currently being drafted on the delimitation of authorities and terms of reference between the federal centre and Chechen republic. This law will give Chechnya the broadest possible autonomy allowed by the Russian and recently adopted Chechen constitutions.

Putin stressed that the process of political settlement in Chechnya would continue. "It will develop simultaneously, parallel with the gradual transfer of functions on maintaining law and order to the revived Chechen Interior Ministry, Prosecutor's Office and Justice Ministry," the President said.

He recalled that the Russian parliament's lower chamber had passed the law on amnesty in the first reading. "We will continue the process," the President assured.

Putin thanked the Prime Minister of the Netherlands who had also spoken at the summit for his positive assessment of the Chechen referendum.