Grozny residents complain of traffic jams during opening of the stele "City of Military Glory"

The celebrations dedicated to awarding the title of the "City of Military Glory" to the Chechen capital have essentially impeded the motor traffic in Grozny, locals report.

Major traffic jams occurred near the mosque "Heart of Chechnya", close to where a memorial stele was opened. On April 6, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree of awarding the title of the "City of Military Glory” to Grozny. On June 22, he presented the city Mayor of Islam Kadyrov with a confirming memo. At the same time, the head of the republic – Ramzan Kadyrov – announced that on June 25 the city will host festivities on the occasion.

The stele, the construction of which began in late April, was opened on June 25. It is a marble stele with the coat of arms of Russia, around which there are four pedestals with bas-reliefs depicting fragments of the history of the Chechen people. They reflect the date of the foundation of Grozny, the Civil War and the Great Patriotic War, as well as the period of the last 15 years, when Grozny was developing most actively.

The main elements of the stele, as noted by the administration of Grozny, were made by the famous Russian sculptor Salavat Scherbakov.

Grozny residents have noted that the festivities were accompanied by reinforced security measures. According to their stories, the central part of the Chechen capital was blocked for motor transport; and reinforced police and military units were on duty in major streets and highways.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.