RUSSIA / CHECHNYA : Putin's Pride Seems Like Costly Dead End For Some Russians.

                                          NYTIMES / M. Schwirtz
                                       2 screen read combined

      PM Vladimir Putin's 12 year war to control Chechnya is seen by a growing number of Russians...as an expensive dead end.
     The leadership in the North Caucasus is seen as corrupt from lavish subsidies.
     It could become a major issue in upcoming elections...as Putin seeks the presidency again.
    But Putin defends expenditures there for security reasons and because of the region's vast resources.