Chechen parliament founds alternative Peace Prize

On March 25, Chechen MPs made a decision to establish an annual prize and a medal named after Ahmat Kadyrov, former President of Chechnya, assassinated in a terror act at the Grozny "Dynamo" Stadium on May 9, 2004. This award, as conceived by Chechen parliamentarians, should become a sort of an analogue of the Nobel Peace Prize.

It is reported that the initiators of the decision were the Spiritual Department of Moslems of Chechnya, International Human Rights Organizations "Peace and Human Rights", Muslim Coordination Centre in Northern Caucasus, Islamic Cultural Centre of Russia and Chechen public and state organizations.

"The idea to set up the Ahmat Kadyrov Peace Prize appeared in MPs and activists last December, when the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to US President Barack Obama, leader of the country that conducts two occupational wars far away from its territory. Then, the idea was first announced to inaugurate an alternative peace prize and to name it after President Ahmat Kadyrov, who gave his life for the sake of peace in his land," a source in the machinery of the Parliament of Chechnya told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent on the occasion.

The source said nothing about the sum of money to be paid out to laureates, but noted that the prize will be awarded by decision of a special commission of the parliament.

In Chechnya, the idea of the new award named after Ahmat Kadyrov was perceived differently.

"The establishment of the Ahmat Kadyrov Peace Prize is just an ordinary PR action aimed to spread the Kadyrovs cult of personality, already deeply rooted in the republic, far beyond its limits," said a local expert, in whose opinion this prize will bring no benefits to the Chechen Republic and its residents.

"Our officials, in their aspiration to please Ramzan Kadyrov, are ready to make every possible, even such extraordinary steps. I dare assume that the first prize laureate will be Russian Premier Vladimir Putin, whom Ramzan Kadyrov for some reason finds to be the saviour of the Chechen people," said the expert.

Another local observer is sure that establishment of the Ahmat Kadyrov Peace Prize in retort of the Nobel Peace Prize is a step of local authorities called to demonstrate their unconditional loyalty to the Kremlin at the background of possible serious cadre changes in the region.