Chechen MPs approve new name of Kadyrov's post

The members of the Chechen parliament have unanimously adopted changes to the Constitution of Chechnya, including the "Mekhkan-Da" as the name of the post of the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov. The amendments were also adopted that allow Kadyrov "to take measures to ensure the security and territorial integrity" of Chechnya.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on February 2, Akhmed Dudaev, the Chechen Press Minister, explained the introduction of the new term by the concern for the preservation and development of the culture and identity of the Chechen nation. Telegram users have treated the idea to supplement the post of the head of Chechnya with the title of "Country's Father" as inappropriate and pretentious, and urged not to single Kadyrov out among other heads of Russian regions.

"The aim of this change is to establish uniformity in the use of the title of the head of the region in the Chechen language, which is the state language in the Chechen Republic," the website of the Chechen Parliament explains.

Among the Vainakhs, the title "Mekhkan-Da" was never used earlier, the interviewed Caucasian scholars have stated.

Earlier, the amendments that remove the responsibility for the territorial integrity of the republics away from the heads of regions caused heated discussions in Dagestan and Karachay-Cherkessia. The adoption of the above amendments can revive the territorial problems in Northern Caucasus, Kady-Hadji Khalkechev, the chairman of the Congress of the Karachay people, has noted.