The memory of Dzhokhar Dudayev, the first president of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, has been immortalized in Lviv. The plaque was ceremoniously unveiled on the façade of a building on a street named after him, in the heart of the city.

Representatives of the Chechen diaspora, including Akhmed Zakayev, Prime Minister of the unrecognized Chechen Republic of Ichkeria in exile, as well as Chechen volunteers fighting on the Ukrainian side and local officials, attended the ceremony.

Akhmed Zakayev emphasized that the unveiling of such a plaque is a step toward Europe's recognition of its historical memory. He believes that Ukraine's ability not only to fight but also to remember during such a difficult time testifies to its political maturity and profound European values.

"We are unveiling not just a plaque on a façade, but another door into Europe's historical memory." "In this most difficult time for Ukraine, you find the strength not only to fight, but also to remember—not only to defend your cities, but also to affirm the moral meaning of your struggle. This is a sign of the nation's political maturity, a sign of a genuine European culture of remembrance," Zakayev said.

He added that for the Chechen people, this means they are not alone in their history and called for the lessons of the past not to be forgotten when it comes to the struggle for freedom.

The unveiling of the memorial plaque in Lviv coincides with the 30th anniversary of Dzhokhar Dudayev's assassination by Russian intelligence services. Supporters of Ichkeria held commemorative events in various countries on this day.

Previously, memorial plaques in memory of Dzhokhar Dudayev were installed in Ivano-Frankivsk and Poltava, and Kyiv authorities named a street after him. In October 2022, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, by a majority vote, recognized the independence of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria.

As a reminder, on March 12 of this year, a court in Grozny designated the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria a terrorist organization and banned the activities of "the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria and its 29 branches in 14 European countries" in Russia. The court's decision also stated that since November 2007, the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria has been "led by A. Zakayev, who is wanted internationally for terrorist crimes and hiding in the United Kingdom."

In January 2025, the Southern District Military Court of the Russian Federation sentenced Akhmed Zakayev in absentia to 20 years in prison. According to Russian investigators, in July 2022, he proclaimed himself the leader of an independent Chechen Republic and created a battalion within the Foreign Legion of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.