All quiet on the Chechen front

The end of anti-terrorist operations in Chechnya is either a happy conclusion to a bitter conflict or a final concession to Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov as he cements his position as feudal chief of the fractious territory. Or perhaps it's simply an anti-crisis measure aimed at plugging a fiscal black hole as the petrodollars start to dry up.
Russian papers took a mixed view of the government's decision to end the raft of legal, economic and travel restrictions on Chechnya and withdraw federal forces charged with stamping out terrorism and insurrection.
In Izvestia, it was down to cold, hard cash. Anton Zaritovsky said his contacts "indirectly confirmed" that the end was partly "to save budget funds", while providing a powerful stimulus to the local economy.
But the figures didn't add up for other papers, with Nezavisimaya Gazeta pointing out the financial savings but warning: "The fight between local clans for budget money is another matter. The situation here is much more serious."
The happiest faces outside of the Kadyrov family were to be found on Russia Today, the English-language TV channel, which hailed a "great success" for Kadyrov and an "indicator of stability" in the republic.
Others were alarmed at the increase in power for Kadyrov - who recently told a BBC reporter he had wanted to pursue a blood feud against assassinated ex-warlord Sulim Yamadayev. Vadim Rechkalov wrote in Moskovsky Komsomolets: "Since midnight on 16 April someone who cannot be trusted has become the sole master of Chechnya. If he was an enemy, everything would be much simpler. But Ramzan is a Hero of Russia and a dangerous friend."
Former Russian soldier Arkady Babchenko, writing in Britain's Guardian newspaper, criticised it as a "purely populist" move, and warned that for Chechnya's population Kadyrov's "word is law". That may be news to the rebels who were reportedly planning a new wave of assaults on Grozny within days of the end of the military operation.
Seaside shenanigans
The Sochi election campaign turned into the final straight, with the handful of remaining riders jolted by claims of sabotage as the polling booths came into view.
According to local security chief Alexander Birillo, an unnamed candidate had invited "bandits" from far-flung parts of Russia to stir up trouble in the final days before Sunday's vote, RIA Novosti reported.
Most people suspected it was an attempt to nobble Boris Nemtsov, seen as the only opposition to United Russia's Anatoly Pakhomov.
Naturally Nemtsov turned down the Dick Dastardly role in this particular Wacky Race, urging Birillo to go and catch the bad guys instead of issuing media statements. Those so-called "bandits", he said, were electoral monitors called from out of town because the locals had been "intimidated".
And, with Kommersant reporting that Pakhomov was in line for about 60 per cent of the vote, Nemtsov - tipped to get 25 per cent - failed in his efforts to remove the acting mayor from the race with a protest to the courts about excessive campaign spending.
At the same time FSB agents uncovered a Georgian spy in the Black Sea resort. Mamuka Maisuradze will be expelled from Russia.

Chechen President Restricts Vodka Sales

GROZNY -- Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov has restricted sales of vodka and other spirits to two hours a day.A handful of other regions have imposed curbs on alcohol, but Kadyrov's move in his mainly Muslim region will be one of the most severe.It limits the sale of drinks containing more than 15 percent alcohol to between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. and bans sales of strong drinks altogether during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan."Extremism, terrorism, drug addiction and alcoholism are equally bad," Kadyrov said in a statement this week. "I am choosing a healthy life. We must work together to counter the spread of these unhealthy weaknesses in our population," he said.Chechnya, theater of a war between federal forces and rebels from 1994, lies in the center of the mainly Muslim North Caucasus, which consumes less alcohol than other parts of the country, where vodka consumption is high.Some political analysts say Kadyrov is quietly ushering in an Islamic society with rules that order women to wear headscarves and long skirts if working in government offices.