Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov, who recently opened his personal blog on Live Journal, gathered over 1,500 followers within three days.
"I am eager to make friends with you, communicate often, share opinions over different events," Kadyrov said in part of his first and only post so far on his page (http://ya-kadyrov.livejournal.com). Ya Kadyrov translates from Russian to I, Kadyrov.
The Chechen president said he is "communicative and an extremely open person."
Kadyrov's press service said that in the first three days, over 1,500 Internet users had already added him as a friend.
Bloggers can read Kadyrov's Live Journal not only through the friend wire, but also using the RSS channel.
Any user can comment on Kadyrov's thoughts; however, the messages are checked by moderators before being released onto the web.
"Kadyrov maintains his personal blog himself," the press service said.
The Chechen president followed his boss's suit, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who opened his Live Journal blog in April 2009.
Medvedev said he uses the Internet daily and believes it to be the best possible platform for public debate.
Medvedev urged officials to go online last year. "Many state bodies have developed rather good sites, there are successful examples of the implementation of electronic government, for example in Tatarstan," he said.
"And many managers were unable to deny themselves the pleasure and followed my example," the Russian leader said.
Last week, during his visit to the United States, Medvedev opened his official Twitter account both in English and Russian.
Blogger Temporeader commented on Kadyrov's post, saying: "I guess our government has wisely chosen a method of cultural cooperation instead of warfare. It's cheaper and more effective."
MOSCOW, June 29 (RIA Novosti)
