Grozny completes restoring Akhmat Kadyrov Avenue

The construction and restoration works in one of the main streets of the Chechen capital – Akhmat Kadyrov Avenue – are nearing completion. The opening of the completely renovated avenue is scheduled for August 23, the birthday of the former head of Chechnya. The reconstruction involves a large number of builders and workers from Turkey and Azerbaijan, which causes resentment among local residents, who remind about high unemployment rate in the republic.

"The reconstruction of Akhmat Kadyrov Avenue is nearing its completion; however, quite a lot is still to be done. Here, we reconstruct about 50 various objects at the same time; we build park zones and fountains; make repairs of tunnel near 'Minutka' Square and a viaduct, and so on," an employee of the Housing and Communal Ministry told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"Kadyrov Avenue is mainly reconstructed by teams of builders from Turkey and Azerbaijan, while local builders are jobless. Officials say that local workers are not qualified enough and that they allegedly disagree to work for 15-20,000 roubles per month," said on this occasion one of the local observers.

According to his story, Turkish and Azerbaijani builders are paid on time, while local builders, working at same sites, have month-long delays in payment.

These words were confirmed by a local resident Umar S.: "I've been working in Kadyrov Avenue for three months already; however, they still promise to pay my salary. What is most interesting: while I, as well as other local, earn about 500 roubles per day, Turkish workers receive several times more," said Umar.

Officials from construction companies make no comments.