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Post by Nictoshek on Apr 3, 2013 10:44:36 GMT -7
 The skyscraper can be seen on the right hand side of this picture. Tallest Skyscraper In Chechnya Engulfed By Huge FireAdam Taylor | Apr. 3, 2013, A 475-foot tall skyscraper in Chechen capital of Grozny is on fire, according to multiple reports. Russia Today reports the 40-story-high Olympus Tower in the Grozny City complex is the tallest building in Chechnya, and the tallest in South Caucasus region. Another 65-story building in the same complex will be the tallest Russian building outside of Moscow when it is completed. The building houses a five-star hotel, identified as RFL/RL as the Olimp Hotel, and apartments. All people inside the building have been evacuated and Ria Novosti reports that none of the evacuees needed medical treatment. Ria Novosti reports that more than 100 firefighters and 16 fire engines are battling the fire. One source told the Russian news agency all floors of the skyscraper, except the ground floor, are on fire. At present it isn't clear what caused the fire. |
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Post by Jaga on Apr 3, 2013 17:00:58 GMT -7
Nictoe, this looks amazing and strange. I did not realize that Chechnya's capital has some worthy buidlings, they have an islamic Mosque . The name of their capital is still Russian which means "dangerous"... I guess they cannot change their capital name since they still officially belong to Russia.  |
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Post by Eric on Apr 3, 2013 19:44:05 GMT -7
Grozniy (which actually means "terrible;" "dangerous" is "опасный") has been completely rebuilt since the end of the war in Chechnya. Before reconstruction, it was truly a ruined city. Now, everything is very rich and opulent. The reconstruction budget was enormous.
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Post by Jaga on Apr 3, 2013 20:52:22 GMT -7
Eric,
just to remind everybody.... Russia destroyed Groznyj after uprising. Of course Chechens are not angels but Russians are also not innocent.
You are right about Groznyj. Actually "grozny" means dangerous, violent in Polish but "Ivan the Terrible" was "Ivan Groznyj". Still both words are similar in meaning.
Here is an interesting story:
Fire in M. Depardieu's Neighborhood
A tower meant to showcase the revival of Russia's Chechnya, was destroyed in a fire. French actor Gérard Depardieu was given an apartment in the same complex.
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Post by Nictoshek on Apr 4, 2013 4:56:01 GMT -7
 Surprising how Chechnya came back after those horrific annihilating thermobaric Pinocchio attacks back in 2000: bit.ly/YUGa9i |
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Post by Eric on Apr 4, 2013 6:37:00 GMT -7
just to remind everybody.... Russia destroyed Groznyj after uprising. Of course Chechens are not angels but Russians are also not innocent. Chechens have just as much blame in the destruction of the city as Russians do. The way you describe it, Jaga, the Russian military simply destroyed the city in order to "punish" the Chechens who would dare to try to become independent. First, countries do not let territories unilaterally declare independence without a fight. Second, the Chechens used terrorist and guerilla tactics throughout the war, while the Russian military was obliged to follow international law regarding warfare. (They didn't always, but there was trouble when they didn't.) Third, the majority of Chechens did not and do not want independence. They were simply held hostage by a very dangerous group of separatists who were willing to use violence to accomplish their goals. Why does the West tell Russia to give Chechnya independence, but the West tells Georgia that it is allowed to keep Abkhazia and South Ossetia? Why does the West tell Serbia to give Kosovo independence but Moldavia is allowed to keep Transdnestria? It is a double-standard. Russia and Serbia represent the vestiges of the "Cold War enemy" and so they're told to give away territory. Georgia and Moldavia represent "victims" of the "Cold War enemy" and are told they're allowed to keep whatever they want. The Soviet Union won World War II. Japan lost World War II, but the West tells Russia to give the Kurile Islands back to Japan. (The USSR even entered the war against Japan at America's urging, but now America tells Russia to give back the territory it gained as a result of fighting for America! Why? Cold War!) The Soviet Union won World War II and two wars against Finland. The West tells Russia to give back Karelia. Finland would like it back, but it refuses to ask for it back. First, it knows what the answer would be. Second, Finland was required by law to be an "ally" of the USSR from the 1940s until the 1990s, so the idea of Karelia returning to Finland was never even mentioned. The Soviet Union won World War II and Germany lost. At one time, the West wanted the USSR to give Kaliningrad (Köningsberg) back to Germany. Why should the Soviet Union have had to give territory back to three losing countries of the war?! Answer: because it was the "evil empire." |
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