MOSCOW. August 6 (Interfax) - Russian human rights organizations have voiced concern over the Chechen administration's initiative to move the offices of international humanitarian organizations to Grozny.

"If this is not a suggestion but a demand from Chechen authorities, this is against the law," council member of the Memorial Human Rights Center and head of the Civil Assistance Committee Svetlana Gannushkina told Interfax on Monday.

By law charitable organizations have the right to work anywhere without opening an office, she said.

"If this is not a demand but an offer from the Chechen authorities, some organizations could relocate their offices and warehouses into the republic. However, everything will depend on the Chechen authorities' attitude toward these organizations: whether they want to create a favorable environment for humanitarian organizations or tighten control over them," Gannushkina said.

Last week the Chechen authorities suggested that international humanitarian organizations working in Chechnya move their offices and warehouses into the republic.

"We are not dictating terms to anyone. We don't even dream of it. However, we should work hand-in-hand if the humanitarian organizations really want to help the Chechen Republic and the people resolve the difficult economic situation within a short time," Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov told Interfax.

"They used to explain the location of offices and warehouses in Nalchik (Kabardino-Balkaria), Nazran (Ingushetia) and Vladikavkaz (North Ossetia) by the unstable situation in Grozny and Chechnya. It is common knowledge that the situation in the Chechen Republic has stabilized and may be described as the most stable in the entire North Caucasus," Kadyrov said.

"Chechen Vice-Premier Lema Magomadov, who is in charge of social affairs, followed my instruction and informed representatives of international humanitarian organizations of the need to move their offices and warehouses to Grozny," the president said.

A number of humanitarian organizations, among them the Polish Humanitarian Action, the International Committee of Red Cross and others, have opened offices in Grozny, he said.

Meanwhile, the United Nations has said that the initiative should be coordinated with the federal government.

"This initiative must be discussed with the Russian government, because the United Nations is working in Russia at the invitation and with the consent of the Russian government, and all the programs are implemented in coordination with the Russian authorities," Victoria Zotikova from the Office of the UN Development Program Resident Coordinator told Interfax.

UN agencies are reviewing their projects in the North Caucasus and shifting the focus from humanitarian assistance to the promotion of economic development, she said.

Asked whether the UN could open an office in Grozny, she said, "No decision has yet been made."

Human Rights Watch has taken the Chechen initiative with caution.

Humanitarian organizations could have various reasons in basing outside Chechnya, for instance, security, Rachel Denber, deputy Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch, told Interfax.