Residents of Chechnya outraged by events in honour of perished Pskov paratroopers

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the battle of the 6th company of the Pskov Airborne Division with militants in Chechnya, mourning events were held with the participation of Ramzan Kadyrov. Local residents have accused the authorities of cynicism and offered to perpetuate the memory of war victims, not of paratroopers.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the commemoration of Russian soldiers who perished in Chechen Wars gives rise to locals' discontent. The Kremlin seeks to heroize the militaries, who killed civilians, Ruslan Kutaev, the president of the Assembly of Caucasian Nations, believes.

Zalina, a resident of Grozny, called the event to be the "top of cynicism." "Bringing here relatives of these paratroopers and mourn for them is the height of cynicism ... Everyone living here clearly remembers the atrocities committed here by militaries," she said.

Chechen authorities want to please the federal centre, another Chechen resident said. "For me, the militants of Khattab and Basaev, and Pskov paratroopers are primarily those, for whose fault innocent people perished," he believes.

"In winter of 2000, we were in the Shatoi District as refugees. I remember well the bombings, shelling and people's deaths ... It's just a mockery of the memory of innocent war victims – women, old people and children," said the historian named Salavdi.