22:12, 23 February 2018

February 23 celebrations cause mixed emotions in Sochi residents

An eternal flame in Sochi. Photo by Svetlana Kravchenko for the "Caucasian Knot"

The authorities state about 10,000 participants of celebrations in Sochi. However, townspeople reacted ambiguously to the Fatherland's Defender Day; this is a reminder of those who perished at war, and an occasion to reflect on the country's foreign policy problems.

"I think that we must defend the frontiers of our country and not participate in wars in other countries, as we lose our forces and provoke new conflicts," Sergey Voloshin, an entrepreneur, told the "Caucasian Knot".

Nikolai Pelikhov, a veteran of the Afghan War, believes that in modern Russia Fatherland's Defender Day has lost its meaning.

"Most bureaucrats have real estates and bank accounts abroad; will they fight for their homeland?" he asked. Besides, the strength of the Russian Army is insufficient to properly protect the borders, he has added.

It should be noted that today residents of Chechnya, despite the authorities' ban, have commemorated the victims of deportation that was held from February 23 to March 9, 1944.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.

Author: Svetlana Kravchenko

Source: CK correspondent