THE GREAT HONOR OF BEING CHECHEN!

HONORARY CITIZENSHIP OF ICHKERIA FOR SERGEY MELNIKOFF

GIACHECHEN-PRESS | State Information Agency of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria: On April 12, 2024, a ceremonial event was held at the General Representation of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria in Kyiv to grant renowned American justice advocate Sergey Melnikoff citizenship of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria.

The event was opened by Chechen political figure, General Representative of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, Akhmed Alviyev, and legal expert, political analyst, and Honorary Consul of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria in Ukraine, Yuriy Shulipa. In a solemn atmosphere, Akhmed Alviyev read out the Decree of the Head of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ichkeria, Akhmed Zakayev, granting Sergey Melnikoff citizenship of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria and presented him with a Chechen passport. The event was attended by media representatives, members of the public, military volunteers, and servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Famed American Photographer and Philanthropist Sergey Melnikoff Granted Ichkerian Citizenship

In accordance with Decree No. 005 of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria dated February 22, 2014, and guided by Articles 79, 80, and 81 of the Constitution of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria and the Law on Citizenship of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, the Cabinet of Ministers hereby

DECREES:
1. To grant citizenship of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria and issue a Chechen passport to Sergey Melnikoff.
2. I retain control over the execution of this decree.
3. This decree enters into force upon signing.

Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria
A. Zakayev

In the photo: the passport of Sergey Melnikoff, an American artist, identifying him as Chechen by nationality. Sergey Melnikoff stands next to a sculptural representation of the State Emblem of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria that he created. This emblem is made from shrapnel, bullets, and five thousand shell casings collected from Ukrainian battlefields, symbolizing the fight against the Russian war dragon. “This emblem is a work of art of historical significance,” said Honorary Consul of Ichkeria in Ukraine Yuriy Shulipa, “worthy of inclusion in the Guinness Book of Records.”

Congratulations to Sergey Melnikoff on Acquiring Citizenship of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria from the Council of Chechen Elders in Europe

Dear Sergey Melnikoff!

The Council of Chechen Elders sincerely congratulates you on acquiring citizenship of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria! We are especially pleased to acknowledge this fact, as you have long been an associate member of the Council of Chechen Elders in Europe.

We are confident that you, more than anyone, deserve Ichkerian citizenship because, with an unwavering spirit, you have been fighting on the information front against the “Evil Empire” — Russia, standing alongside true Chechen mujahideen who have defended the freedom and independence of Chechnya for over four hundred years!

Thank you immensely, Sergey, for your outstanding and significant creation — the coat of arms of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, made from thousands of bullet and shell fragments collected by farmers from the war-torn fields of Ukraine. This much-suffering Ukraine, which we, the Chechen Elders, support with all our might, just as our ancestors did. We firmly believe that with Ukraine’s victory over Russia, which will undoubtedly happen, Insha’Allah, the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria will gain long-awaited freedom, and the coat of arms created by you and your colleagues will be placed in the most honorable spot in our liberated homeland!

We also hope that your example will be followed by other representatives of progressive humanity, striving for good and justice across the Earth. As worthy citizens of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, they will apply all their efforts and resources to ensure the final and irreversible independence of the Chechen people!

Now, Sergey, you have only a small task left — to learn the Chechen language and become a full member of the Council of Chechen Elders in the future, as your experience, advice, and wishes will be extremely valuable to us!

On behalf of the Council of Chechen Elders in Europe:

Ziyauddin Beloyev
Chairman of the Council of Elders;

Mairbek Taramov
Associate Member of the Council of Elders
Ombudsman of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, your friend, and comrade.

Sergey Melnikoff’s Speech of Gratitude

I am deeply moved by the exceptional attention repeatedly shown to me by the sons of Ichkeria. This includes the Qoman Turpal order awarded to me. Twelve years ago, this high state honor came as a complete surprise to me for what was, in fact, my modest fight against the Russian plague on the planet.

Being given the opportunity to create a work of historical significance — the coat of arms of Ichkeria, a national symbol of freedom, courage, bravery, and valor of the entire Chechen people — is a divine gift for an artist.

While working on the sculpture of the state emblem of Ichkeria, I experienced immense spiritual uplift and profound pride in being part of the heroic feat of the sons of the Caucasus. The coat of arms of Ichkeria, made from fragments of a great war, symbolizes the unyielding will of a people who have fought for their independence from tyranny and despotism for four centuries.

To have the honor of bringing to life the symbol of a nation is a great calling for an individual. By the way, anthropologists do not have the concept of the white race. Scientifically, the white race is called “Caucasian.” When immigrants arrive in America, their race is noted in documents as “Caucasian,” not “white.”

This fact somehow justified the other great honor bestowed upon me five years ago when I was invited to the Council of Chechen Elders in Europe. And today, an incredible event has occurred — I have become a free Ichkerian.

Such moments in life are never forgotten. Honorary citizenship of a monoethnic country for a non-believer and non-Chechen by blood is something extraordinary in the eyes of anyone even slightly familiar with the customs of the Caucasus. It is like a knighthood ceremony of the Caucasus!

This is how I perceive the granting of Ichkerian citizenship to me. A great gift!

I accept it with deep gratitude. And I will never dishonor your choice, my brothers in the mortal struggle against the Russian dragon. We will live fighting, and remember the prophetic words of the great son of the Chechen people, Dzhokhar Dudayev: Russia will fall when the Ukrainian sun rises!

Glory to Free Ichkeria!