Bittersweet News for Russians: Tyumen and Grozny (Chechnya) Push Out Moscow as Top Places to Live
This Monday, the Financial University under the Government of Russia published the findings of a large-scale study of the quality of life in the major Russian cities. Tyumen is #1 when it comes to comfort. The success of this Siberian city was covered in our previous episode. Second place is occupied by the capital of Chechnya, the city of Grozny. In less than 20 years, Grozny has managed to transform from a pile of rubble into a safe and blooming city.
The head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, shared that with our reporter Alexey Baranov.
The five-minute air journey has five stops on the opposite banks of the mountain lake of Kezenoyam. The steel cord stretches 100 yards over the frozen lake's surface. The finish line is next to this modern hotel, which works all year round. Guests come here, to the border of the Chechen Republic and Dagestan from even the most remote Russian regions.
Evgeny, tourist: "The service is very good, almost at a European level. I once went on the lake when no one was there and saw fish scattering under the ice. It was a marvelous view, you know".
Evgeny is talking about this transparent hockey rink built on the ice of this beautiful lake. Many people started coming here in winter after an asphalt road (there wasn't even a road during Soviet times) was built straight to the hotel complex.
Dozens if not hundreds of miles of roads with the most advanced surfacing appear in the republic every year. Only the equipment is imported. Everything required to produce all types of road surfaces including the best globally recognized ones is mined in the republic. This asphalt plant works almost 24/7.
"The bottom layers are coarse asphalt. The top layer will be made of thick asphalt smooth and even".
Ramzan Kadyrov showed us the newly constructed buildings and talked about the republic as if it was a living organism which evolves by absorbing all that is good.
Ramzan Kadyrov, leader of Chechnya: "It happens automatically, the mechanism works. When I travel abroad I see new projects and come back with new ideas on how to make the city better, more beautiful, and more convenient for the people. It's a shame that we have neither the free time nor the opportunities of the states that we visit. Still, we make arrangements. Saudi Arabia is ready to invest in Chechnya and the UAE is already doing that".
Ramzan Kadyrov tells us that the republic has been providing food for itself and its many guests for many years. This particular candy factory produces 30 various brands. The fruit jelly, candies, and cookies that are produced here can be bought in the neighboring districts. In turn, the regions send specialists to the Chechen Republic that help broaden the range of products.
Larisa Polozova, lead confectioner: "We're developing a new brand of fruit jelly that's healthy for children and is made of bio-ingredients. Right now, the public agenda is to become healthier".
The same idea made another facility, which processes up to three tons of the freshest meat per day, give up any kind of storage. The ready-to-cook products are immediately delivered to shops.
Baskhan Parshoyev, supervising butcher: "We use the mixer to add salt. We mix it, we add salt, and we age the meat It takes 12 to 24 hours for the meat to age".
The citizens of the republic and their numerous guests have long gotten used to their city being so beautiful, to say the least.
And here's Argun. The buildings aren't as tall as in the capital but that doesn't make the town any less beautiful but it does make it cozy. Ramzan Kadyrov proudly calls it "a chamber town".
Ramzan Kadyrov: "We're working on our economy. The economy is our key priority. We won't be able to maintain everything that we've created without the economy. The state government gave us a task to develop our economy and attract investment. And that's what we're doing. We've achieved pretty good results and have made some arrangements".
"We're already implementing some of our projects".
Foreign languages can now be heard more frequently within the walls of Chechen State University. Said from India is one of more than a hundred students from the near and far abroad who decided to get higher education in Russia, in Grozny.
Said, medical student: "I heard that education here is very good. My university won first place in a competition held in Moscow. The atmosphere here is entirely different I'm happy to be here. I live in a student dormitory. The hotel and dormitory are located in the same building. It's really convenient for foreigners. I have my own kitchen and bathroom".
This classroom is the opposite. Amir is teaching economics. He studied in Britain for several years as part of a special Chechen program.
Amir Baisultanov, professor of economics: "Education in the republic is on the rise. Our students have potential. The kids who grew up in the post-war period and were exposed to digital technologies have great potential".
The state wildlife sanctuary is also doing quite well.
- Hurray!
The Chechen leader's idea became a reality. Thousands of bison, moose, deer, and roe deer live in hundreds of acres of forest in the Gudermes district. They're already reproducing. They are fed and provided medical assistance, if needed, by experienced rangers.
- Ready set, go! To the left! Go-go-go-go!
Ramzan Kadyrov: “The war took everything from us. People left the region Even animals left the region. We were left with nothing. We had to do something about it. We've completely prohibited hunting while animal population replenishes. We'll set them free and let them live on their own.”
And here's a Chechen star, the five-year-old Rakhim. He did more than 4,000 pushups in two and a half hours.
Rakhim Kuriyev, resident of the Duba-Yurt village: "I love doing pushups. I also like drawing. I'm drawing a house right now".
First, Rakhim became the idol of the kids at the Duba-Yurt kindergarten where his aunt works.
Zolikhan Kuriyeva, aunt: "He knows when to exercise, we don't force him. At 6 PM he always calls me, "Auntie, let's train".
Ramzan Kadyrov is now one of the boy's fans. The Chechen leader invited the young athlete to train with him and personally came to congratulate him when the commission of the Russian Record Book registered Rakhim's record. After the record was officially recognized the five-year-old Rakhim became the youngest honorable citizen of the Chechen Republic.
Ramzan Kadyrov: "My congratulations!"
Athletic training is also required for the members of the legendary dancing ensemble Vainakh the most famous Chechen artist group in Russia and the world. Foreign tours always alternate with performances in the Russian regions. Concert halls are always full during the 90-minute-long performances. During the warm seasons, the Vainakh ensemble loves to perform in the open air right on the slopes of the picturesque Caucasus Mountains the ones that for centuries have been inspiring and empowering all of the people living in this marvelous region of Russia.
Alexey Baranov and Alexander Malyshev Vesti: News of the Week the Chechen Republic, Grozny, the Great Caucasian Ridge.