Renaming of Grozny Judo Club continues trend of "Akhmatization" of Chechnya

The "Edelweiss" Judo Sports Club in Chechnya has announced the creation of the "Akhmat" Club, for which the "Edelweiss" will play the role of the youth staff. This new renaming of the sports club did not surprise local residents, but caused their criticism.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in April 2019, the "Grozny" Airsoft Club was renamed to "Akhmat"; and in July, the managers of the "Gorets" (Highlander) Cycling Club announced their decision to rename it into "Akhmat". In June 2017, the "Terek" FC (Football Club) was renamed into "Akhmat".

The "Edelweiss" Judo Club, created in Chechnya in 2009, has been renamed into "Akhmat", the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told at the Ministry of Sports of Chechnya.

The renaming of the club was criticized by the local residents interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"This is a trend of the ongoing 'Akhmatization' of the republic. It would be strange if they called 'Edelweiss' in some other way except 'Akhmat'," said Ruslan, a local activist.

"I think that soon there will be no other names for sports clubs except for 'Akhmat' in Chechnya. It is strange not that the 'Edelweiss' was renamed into 'Akhmat', but that it was not done before. Edelgeriev, an assistant to Ramzan Kadyrov and his relative, is the president of the club. Here, only last year, several sports clubs announced their decisions to become 'Akhmat' clubs, plus Khosi-Yurt was renamed into Akhmat-Yurt. It's no surprise for us," another local activist, Lechi, has agreed.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on January 3, 2020 at 11:25 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.