#3 - JRL 7269
World's oldest person lives in Chechnya

GROZNY. July 29 (Interfax) - The world's oldest person lives in Chechnya. Zabani Khachukayeva, who turned 124 this year, lives in the Achkhoi-Martan region of the republic.

This means that Khachukayeva is 11 years older than the Japanese man who was earlier declared the oldest person on the planet, Chechen Deputy Health Minister Sultan Alimkhadzhiyev told Interfax.

Khachukayeva has 24 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren, and 7 great-great-grandchildren. She had six children, four of whom died at an early age. Her oldest son, Akhdan, died two years ago and is survived by his 14 children. Her youngest son, Mokhdan, who is still alive, has ten children.

Doctors who have examined Khachukayeva believe she is older than her passport age. They said she is in good health for her age. Khachukayeva is still full of energy and her only complaint is that she has had problems with her hearing over the past couple of years. Despite her advanced age, she still works around the house, looks after her numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great- grandchildren, and prays five times a day.