Speaking in Rostov-na-Donu on 9 December, Aslanbek Aslakhanov, who is President Putin\'s adviser on Chechen affairs, said he considers \"possible and expedient\" the creation of a single federation subject by combining Chechnya and Ingushetia, \"Nezavisimaya gazeta\" reported on 11 December. Pro-Moscow Chechen leader Akhmad-hadji Kadyrov first advocated such a merger shortly after his election in October. At that time, Aslakhanov expressed doubts whether Ingushetia would agree to such a merger, and Ingush President Murat Zyazikov said that a merger is unnecessary and not economically viable. Zyazikov\'s predecessor, Ruslan Aushev, said in October he believes the idea originated in the Kremlin. \"Nezavisimaya gazeta\" on 11 December quoted Aushev as saying the population of the two republics would reject a merger, and it would only exacerbate tensions in the North Caucasus. A Russian political scientist told the same paper that the Kremlin might push for such a merger if and when it decides to withdraw support for Kadyrov, who is lobbying for the right to retain all taxes raised in Chechnya together with profits from the republic\'s oil sector. (RFE/RL)