Moscow: An avenue in the Chechen capital Grozny has been renamed after Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who in 1999 had ordered military campaign to put an end to jehadi warlords arbitrary rule in the quasi-independent Caucasian region.

"As a sign of the Chechen people s gratitude, the Victory Avenue will now be renamed after the national leader - Vladimir Putin. This is our tribute to the person who has done so much for our country and for all of us," pro-Moscow Chechen President Ramzan Kadirov announced yesterday. The Avenue was renamed after the Russian leader on 109th anniversary of the Chechen capital Grozny that also coincides with the 420th anniversary of the Russian-Chechen Friendship treaty of accession of the Caucasian region to the Russian Empire. Inaugurating the central part of Grozny, rebuilt after almost a decade long war with the federal government, Kadirov underscored that Putin is the most popular and trusted person in Chechnya.

Putin, who was prime minister under the late former president, Boris Yeltsin, ordered federal troops into the Chechen Republic in 1999,following a large-scale attack by Chechen militants in the neighbouring Russian republic of Daghestan, and a series of bombing attacks in Moscow and other Russian cities allegedly launched from Chechnya. Putin s tough handling of the conflict in Chechnya earned him popularity throughout Russia. He was elected president in March 2000 after Yeltsin had stepped down on New Year eve in 1999.

Although the Caucasian region is still plagued by insurgency, Putin managed to broadly restore peace in Chechnya by involving former militants into the rebuilding process.

Source : PTI