11:17, 11 December 2019

Putin finds Kadyrov worthy of Hero of Russia title

Putin talking to Sokurov. Screenshot of the video by the NTV channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4s9WdsZfj9E

Vladimir Putin sees no discord in the facts that the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, and the Pskov paratroopers, who died in the battle with Basaev's militants, have the title of Heroes of Russia at the same time.

The head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, was awarded the title of Hero of Russia in 2004.

At a sitting of the Council for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights, the film director, Alexander Sokurov, suggested to Russian president "to rethink the status of the title of Hero of Russia."

"How can it be that the perished soldiers of the Pskov division bear the same title as the Kadyrovs, who fought against them?" Mr Sokurov has said.

Vladimir Putin failed to support the film director, saying that the one who has "sided with Russia" deserves the Hero of Russia title.

Putin has also called the issue of the Caucasus "a very subtle thing." "Like many other nations, the Chechen people suffered from those who had invented a new Russia," Mr Putin answered the Sokurov's question, which was posted on the Twitter by the journalist, Dmitry Smirnov.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on December 10, 2019 at 11:30 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.