Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov's call for a vote on whether to include the image of "Grozny-City" on the new five-hundred-ruble banknote drew sharp criticism from the nationalist organization "Russian Community" and Z-bloggers, who deemed it "ideological sabotage."
The vote, organized by the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, will last until October 14. It is intended to determine the design of the new banknote dedicated to Pyatigorsk and the North Caucasus Federal District. Among the proposed designs for the reverse side was "Grozny-City."
Kadyrov urged his followers to actively support the Chechen landmark, calling it "the main symbol of a revived Grozny" and emphasizing the victory over "international terrorism" in the region. In response, nationalist-minded bloggers called for voting for other options, in particular Mount Elbrus. The "Russian Community" saw the possible appearance of "Grozny-City" on the banknote as "anti-Russian and Christianophobic sabotage" and an attempt to "erase Russian history."
