Residents of Chechnya: authorities inflate budget to celebrate 200th anniversary of Grozny

The authorities of Chechnya have reported an extensive programme to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Grozny. The city expects the arrival of political and public figures from different countries of the world, pop stars, and well-known athletes, an official of the Mayoralty reported.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the celebration of the 200th anniversary of Grozny is scheduled for October 5. Russian Vice-Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko, who headed the Ministry of Sport during the Sochi Olympic Games, was appointed the chairman of the organizing committee for the preparation and holding of the celebration.

According to residents of Chechnya interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot", the authorities of the republic "throw money away" in attempts to create own positive image through holding pompous holidays.

"Do the authorities really suggest that everything in our republic is so good that people need nothing but shows? What will I, an ordinary citizen, get from the holiday to be held on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of Grozny? I will get absolutely nothing but problems, since all the events will be held with enhanced protection. The centre will be closed, and no one will be able to pass or to drive through," believes Said, a resident of the Chechen capital.

"Before celebrating the Grozny's Day, the authorities should have thought about what that date meant. Meanwhile, the fortress of Grozny was founded by General Ermolov in place of 18 completely destroyed Chechen villages, on the bones of our ancestors. And it was built exclusively as a threat to Chechen people, and that's why he called the fortress Grozny (‘Terrible’). And why do we now rejoice? What do we celebrate? Literally on the other days, we solemnly celebrated the 67th anniversary of the Akhmat Kadyrov's birthday, and what? Who was interested in it, except for the officials and the leaders of the republic? Such holidays bring us no good things. They are simply needed for money laundering," said Movsar, an employee of an enterprise in Grozny.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on August 30, 2018 at 08:09 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.