Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visited the troubled autonomous republic of Chechnya Monday to learn more about the region's social and economic situation, the Interfax news agency reported, citing a government spokesman, according to dpa. The visit included a meeting with Ramsan Kadyrov. Violence has been on the rise in the troubled republic, as Islamist militants seek to overturn the Kremlin-backed local government. Attacks have claimed the lives of government officials and policemen, as well as of human rights workers critical of the government. The trouble has also spilled over to the neighbouring republics of Ingushetia and Dagestan. Putin's visit came as supporters of the human rights group Memorial gathered in Moscow to commemorate the death of Natalya Estemirova, a well-known human rights activist who was murdered in July. Some of Estemirova's colleague's have accused Kadyrov of complicity in plans for her death. Putin and Kadyrov also visited the grave of Kadyrov's father, Achmat, a former Chechen president who was killed in a 2004 rebel attack.
