MOSCOW, February 3. /TASS/. The head of the Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov has been named last year’s top crusader against drug and alcohol abuse in Russia, the chief psychiatrist and narcologist under the federal Health Ministry has told TASS.

"The Chechen Republic is one of Russia’s few regions that have prohibited selling alcohol to anyone under 21 years of age," said Yevgeny Bryun, the head of the Moscow-based narcological research center. "Here in Moscow we have long pressed for the idea of raising the age of customers who are allowed to buy alcohol. The motivation is clear. But far from all legislators support these measures. We feel support from the head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov for our efforts."

The prize is awarded by the presidium of the Russian Narcological League and the Association of Russia’s Narcologists.

The Chechen Republic is pushing ahead with a sweeping campaign against drug and alcohol addiction, the Chechen government’s staff has said.

"The campaign has left no one indifferent, Interior Ministry, the Muslim Board of the Chechen Republic, non-governmental organizations and youth associations are taking part in it. Regrettably, we still have a great deal to work on along these lines, but common efforts have been improving the situation with every single year owing to common efforts."

"Drug addiction is a social ill and society should spare no efforts to uproot it," said Magomed Daudov, who leads the staff of the Chechen leader and government.