GROZNY, September 10 (RIA Novosti) - A monument dedicated to Chechnya's first President Akhmad Kadyrov was dismantled in the early hours of Thursday in the Russian republic's capital, Grozny, a RIA Novosti correspondent said.
The monument, created by famous Russian sculptor Zurab Tsereteli, was erected in downtown Grozny four years ago. The decision to dismantle the monument was taken by the Kadyrov family. The statue is to be replaced with a memorial to all those involved in the fight against militants in the republic.
Chechen public activists and spiritual leaders, including Ramzan Kadyrov himself, Chechen spiritual leader Hozh-Akhmad Kadyrov and Dukvakha Abdurakhmanov, speaker of the Chechen parliament, were present at the dismantling.
Hozh-Akhmad Kadyrov expressed his gratitude to Zurab Tsereteli for the monument to the ex-Chechen leader.
"We are grateful to Zurab Tsereteli for his inspired toil," he said. "We hope he will understand correctly the decision by the president and the Kadyrov family. Akhmad Kadyrov did not want any monuments dedicated to him," Hozh-Akhmad Kadyrov said.
He said, the former president's achievements were the best monument to him.
"Continuing his work, under the command of Ramzan Kadyrov has revived Grozny and the whole of the Chechen Republic from the ruins. This is the best monument to Akhmad Kadyrov," he said, adding the former president was a true Muslim and his will could not be immortalized in stone or metal.
