The Ramzan Kadyrov quarter near Irkutsk, conceived as a “Little Chechnya” in 2014, remains a far cry from its ambitious vision, with only four townhouses completed and the rest of the project abandoned. Despite initial promises of a family-friendly community with amenities and connections to the city, the site is now a cluttered wasteland.

Local residents initially questioned the naming of the quarter after the Chechen leader, citing his past role in the Chechen war and questioning his connection to the Irkutsk region. Developer Elena Abubakarova defended her choice, praising Kadyrov as a “wonderful person” who has done much good for Chechnya and Russia.

However, the project soon ran into problems. Residents expressed concerns about the lack of consultation regarding the naming, the developer’s management style, and the potential for ethnic conflict. Abubakarova faced accusations of threatening behavior and even a criminal case for allegedly attempting to run over a bailiff, although the charges were later dropped.

Despite these challenges, Abubakarova initially remained committed to completing the project. She envisioned a closed area with a private kindergarten, guarded perimeter, and a bus stop. However, the project stalled, and in 2016 the governor of the Irkutsk region even initiated a check on the legality of naming the quarter after Ramzan Kadyrov.

Today, the site is a desolate area with the completed townhouses surrounded by garbage and an abandoned playground. A journalist who visited the quarter found no one willing to speak, except for a disgruntled cat.

Abubakarova, now residing in Grozny, maintains that she has not abandoned her dream and is waiting for a favorable time to continue construction. She envisions affordable housing with interest-free mortgages, similar to programs in Chechnya under Kadyrov’s leadership. Despite the current state of disrepair, Abubakarova considers the materials on the wasteland to be valuable for future work.