A silver coin commemorating Akhmat Kadyrov's 75th birthday: The Bank of Russia has issued a commemorative banknote.
The Bank of Russia officially issued a silver commemorative coin worth 2 rubles, dedicated to the 75th anniversary of Akhmat Kadyrov's birth. The release of the commemorative coin sparked a heated and controversial reaction among Russian citizens.
Characteristics of the coin and its design with views of Grozny
The 2-ruble commemorative coin has officially entered the renowned historical series "Outstanding Personalities of Russia." It is crafted entirely of high-quality 925 sterling silver and has a standard diameter of 33 mm.
Specifically, on the coin's reverse, the artists included a relief portrait of the first president of Chechnya and a detailed image of the city of Grozny against the backdrop of the Caucasus Mountains. The obverse, traditionally, features the Russian coat of arms. According to the Central Bank, the coin will enter circulation on July 14, with a total mintage of only 3000 pieces.
"Adam should have been given a place to live": Russians react to the commemorative coin
However, the news of the Chechen leader's profile being minted on Russian currency provoked a wave of criticism. Many social media users recalled his role in the First Chechen War and mocked the regular awarding of his grandchildren.
Consequently, the comments section of the news sparked a heated discussion about the North Caucasian republic's political past and present. As a result, Russians left numerous harsh responses:
"On the other hand, they should have given Adam a place," "They should have done it in Adam's honor right away," "The one who declared jihad on Russia, in case anyone forgot," "In memory of how he killed Russian soldiers in the Chechen war? Well, so what, we made peace. Vova-ogly is the best."
Context: From jihad against federal forces to the title of Hero of Russia
Moreover, the biography of this historical figure is filled with complex contradictions. Akhmat-Khadzhi Kadyrov was the first president of the Chechen Republic within Russia. During the First Chechen War, he held the influential post of mufti of the unrecognized Ichkeria and openly opposed federal forces, declaring jihad against Russia. For his participation in the fighting on the side of the separatists, he was awarded Ichkeria's highest order, "Honor of the Nation."
However, with the outbreak of the Second Chechen War in 1999, Akhmat Kadyrov radically changed his position. Due to his profound rejection of Wahhabism, he refused to support a new bloody confrontation with Moscow, seized several strategic areas of Chechnya from militant control, and completely defected to Russia. For this, the Ichkerian authorities declared him an "enemy of the people" and sentenced him to death in absentia. As for the final outcome of his life, he died on May 9, 2004, in a terrorist attack at a stadium in Grozny and was posthumously awarded the title Hero of the Russian Federation.
