The Kadyrov Foundation distributed food to needy families against the backdrop of the election campaign.
The Akhmat Kadyrov Foundation distributed food packages to needy families in Grozny. The event took place less than two weeks before the elections for the head of Chechnya.
As reported by "Caucasian Knot", the elections in Chechnya are scheduled for September 18-20. Ramzan Kadyrov is running again for the position of head of the republic.
Of the last three votes, in which Ramzan Kadyrov retained the position of head of Chechnya, two were direct elections. In 2021, Kadyrov, according to official data, received 99.7% of the votes. In 2016, his official result was 97.94%. In 2011, direct elections were not held: all deputies of the People's Assembly of Chechnya supported Kadyrov's reappointment for a new term, meaning he was voted for by 100% of the participating deputies.
The regional public fund named after Akhmat Kadyrov held a charity event in Grozny and provided needy families with food packages containing essential products, reported on September 4 by IA "Grozny-inform".
The packages included potatoes, onions, carrots, flour, sugar, buckwheat, rice, beans, pasta, vegetable oil, salt, chicken, tea, and tomato paste. Recipients of the aid expressed gratitude to the head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov and the president of the fund Aymani Kadyrova for their attention and support for needy families, as stated in the publication.
A similar food event was held by the fund on August 17 in the districts of Chechnya. At that time, 61,000 chickens and three loaves of bread per family were distributed to needy families, reported IA "Grozny-inform".
Every month, all budget employees in Chechnya are required to donate about 10% of their income to charity, with donations being officially documented, although they are made in a voluntarily-coerced manner, according to a report by "Caucasian Knot" "Kadyrov's Fund: how they spend the 'money from Allah'. Budget employees and entrepreneurs in Chechnya are required to contribute donations to the fund, confirmed social media users in September 2019.
It should be noted that the Kadyrov Foundation regularly reported on charitable events, however, residents of Chechnya previously complained that aid was distributed unevenly and did not reach all those in need. For instance, on May 10, 2020, after a report on payments of 10,000 rubles to one thousand low-income families, social media users and surveyed residents reported cases of not receiving aid. In particular, a mother of many children with a disabled husband stated that she had never been among the recipients, while surveyed residents claimed that aid sometimes goes to those who need it less.
On June 18, 2020, when the authorities reported the distribution of 350,000 food packages, residents complained about uneven distribution of aid. One commenter, who was considered low-income, said that his neighbors received rice, while he was left without it. Other users also stated that not everyone receives help. At the same time, two residents of the republic, shown in a report by the state television channel, said that they regularly receive assistance from the fund.
On August 25, 2020, residents again complained about the modest volume and selectivity of aid. A Grozny resident Malika, who was raising three children alone and was on the list of needy, said that she did not receive a food package, while one of her acquaintances received help, and another also went without it.