Clergymen call traders in Grozny to honesty

At the republic's shopping centre "Berkat" in Grozny, employees of the Centre of Spiritual and Moral Education and Development held an action with an appeal to fair trade. Traders in the marketplace were given letters; and sermons were read on the issue of fair trade.

"Specifically for this action we prepared letters-appeals to traders, saying about inadmissibility of dishonest trade. Dishonest ways of trading include underweight of goods, sale of goods with expired shelf life, giving false oaths and much more. Islam regards the underweight and unfair trade in general to be among the gravest sins, for which infringers will have to answer before the Allah," the spokesman of the republic's Muftiyat told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"More than once I faced facts of underweight, when purchasing different foodstuffs, such as flour, sugar, meat or fruits and vegetables. When I returned to the marketplace and told traders that they gave me some 200-300 grams less, they just pretended to be confused, and that's all. Demanding to return the money in such cases is absolutely senseless," says Zarema Edieva, a resident of Grozny, on the occasion.

Another local resident Seda Abueva noted that most common are the cases, when traders mix normal vegetables and fruits with rotten ones just to sell spoilt goods.

"Also, cases are frequent of sale of goods with expired shelf life. It's hardly possible to reason dishonest traders only by appeals and exhortations. Other measures, like huge fines, are required," said the woman.

Along with that, many people note that prices on goods at the national shopping centre "Berkat" are significantly higher than in neighbouring republics. "Earlier, when we had our city central marketplace (demolished two years ago under decision of city's authorities, - note of the "Caucasian Knot"), where prices on foodstuff and other goods were significantly lower than today at the "Berkat". The traders say that they have to raise prices because of high rental fees," said local resident Vakhid Usmanov.