Officials deny Chechen-Ingushetia merger

MOSCOW, Oct. 30 (UPI) -- Rumors of a merger between the Russian republics of Chechnya and Ingushetia are unfounded, regional and federal officials said Wednesday.

Oleg Govorun, head of the domestic policy department, called the rumors "groundless," ITAR-TASS reported.

"Neither the presidential administration nor the leaders of these republics have such plans," he said. "There are no consultations on the issue, these allegations are full gossip."

The two republics were joined under the Soviet Union into a single autonomous area.

Ramzan Kadyrov, president of Chechnya, said he would oppose any plan to merge Ingushetia into Chechnya. He said Chechnya is in a phase of "active reconstruction" and should not be burdened with Ingushetia's problems, RIA Novosti reported.

Kadyrov heads a pro-Russian government installed after two wars waged by separatist Chechens. Violence in Ingushetia has been increasing recently, and human rights groups warn of a full-scale civil war.