"That members of the Chechen parliament put forward such an initiative is not unusual. I can understand the idea since Akhmad Kadyrov had done a lot to bring stability to the republic," Putin said. "This man deserves to be remembered."
"There are different ways of doing that. But Ramzan Kadyrov, acting prime minister and the son of Akhmad-Khadzhi Kadyrov, outlined his opinion on the issue, and I think it has been closed," the president said.
Chechen parliamentarians proposed December 14 that the capital be renamed in honor of the late president and in an attempt to turn the sad pages in the republic's history.
Ramzan Kadyrov did not support the idea, saying rebuilding Grozny, which lies in ruins following two military campaigns, was the best way to commemorate his father. He also said Grozny had become part of history for the Chechen people.
