Chechen towers against background of multi-storey buildings -2

By Oleg Kusov exclusively for Vestnik Kavkaza

Caucasians have played an active role in shaping Moscow. Names of streets, squares and alleys are an eloquent reference to the presence of its natives in the city. Akhmad Kadyrov Street in the Yuzhnoye Butovo District is the newest Caucasian street in the Russian capital at the moment.

Maybe I am the only resident of the area who met Akhmad Kadyrov. It happened at the Moscow President Hotel a year before his death. I do not remember the exact topic discussed with Akhmad-Haji, but I had bright impressions of the Chechen leader. The man in a white shirt and a cheap cellphone – the one I had! – was very respectful towards a radio correspondent, although he was not benevolent to Putin’s policy in the Caucasus. He was giving confident and smart answers. I understood why the Kremlin had placed its bets on Akhmad-Haji. He had a strong will, just what warring Chechnya needed in a leader. It seemed that his iron will overwhelmed him even in appearance. His stare had no cruelty, it was attentive and inquisitive. He was reserved, without the boasting so typical of Russian leaders. My interlocutor was appealing to me. He was feeling the burden of his mission, as was seen in his answers. Akhmad-Haji kept repeating “If we live to see…” to conclude every topic, which turned out to be visionary.

Surprisingly, our conversation was not recorded because of a technical mistake. I realized this in about the middle of the conversation. I could not hide my worries, making glances at the recorder. Akhmad Kadyrov noticed it:

"Is something wrong with the equipment?"

I had to hopelessly and shamefully evade giving a direct answer, but he certainly did not believe it. He was a very shrewd man. Nothing could be hidden from him.

* * *

I live in the Yuzhnoye Butovo District at the crossing of Admiral Lazarev Street and Akhmad Kadyrov Street today. I have full right to visit pupils of the local middle school, telling them about the only meeting with the Chechen leader with a tragic death. I have no doubts that the government did the right thing commemorating this strong and unusual man, my compatriot. I think that attempts to organize protests with demands to rename the street after the Pskov airborne troops, who died in Chechnya, were just a cynical political struggle. Some public organization attempted to organize some protests, but the OMON units changed their minds by their appearance alone. Akhmad-Haji, as well as the Pskov airborne troops, died in a war with foreigners and deceived Chechens for Russia. Contrasting them would be sacriligious and shameful.

In the summer of 2009 I managed to describe the street to Ramzan Kadyrov, son of Akhmad-Haji. I was part of a journalist group interviewing Kadyrov Jr. then. Luckily, the equipment did not fail me that time and continued recording at the Chechen leader’s residence for over an hour. After the interview, I gave Ramzan some photos of the street named after his father. I do not remember for sure whether I complained about the unfinished beautification of the street to the leader himself or his aide. I had a certain feeling of regret, emphasizing that there were new houses, a school, but no cherry on top. There are certain setbacks in new ideas and memories when working at night. I remember well that the topic at the meeting back then gained no momentum. It sure was not a pleasant meeting.

That happened in July 2009. After four months I moved to Prague. In about a year the Moscow media reported the renovation of Kadyrov Street.

By August 23, 2010 (birthday of Akhmad-Haji), two watchtowers, two original fountains, three pavilions, many benches, two construction sites, flower beds in the ethnic style, new lamps were placed on the street with the help of the Kadyrov Fund. Mountain landscapes were painted on utility sheds, the road was separated from the pavements by beautiful cast-iron bars with granite bases. The Kadyrov Fund made ramps for the disabled and cladded multi-storey buildings.

I am confident that I played a role in renovating Moscow's Kadyrov Street. The Chechens commemorate Akhmad Kadyrov and could draw attention to the street named after him without the need for suggestions. In any case, I was one of the people loaded with benefits. Now Kadyrov Street is one big cherry in Moscow. Towers, fountains, flowers… It is as comfortable as at home, in the North Caucasus. Muscovites living here may feel themselves at home in the Caucasus mountains.

“The Chechens have the same towers as the ones near my house in Yuzhnoye Butovo!” one of my neighbours can say with surprise in the homeland of Akhmad Kadyrov.