Chechen President Proposes Renaming Chechnya

The Chechen authorities are currently engaged in a major effort to rebuild the capital, Grozny (ITAR-TASS) September 4, 2006 -- The pro-Russian president of Chechnya has proposed changing the name of Russia's southern republic.

Alu Alkhanov said the current name has a negative connotation.

He said he has instructed the region's information and press minister to begin meeting with experts and representatives of public organizations to search for a new name.

Alkhanov said one possibility is to rename Chechnya the Republic of Nokhchiin.

(Interfax, AP)

The Chechnya Conflict

The aftermath of a December 2002 Chechen resistance attack on the main government building in Grozny (epa)

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