On February 9, the Chechen parliament unanimously approved amendments to the Constitution of the republic, according to which the head of the region began to be called “mekhk-da,” which literally translates from Chechen as “father of the region,” but in this context is used to mean “father of the people.” In addition, an addition was made to the Basic Law of Chechnya that the head is the guarantor of the “rights and freedoms of man and citizen” in the region and is responsible for territorial integrity and the maintenance of peace and harmony.
The amendments were proposed by the head of the Chechen parliament Magomed Daudov and 20 other deputies, supported by legislators and approved by Ramzan Kadyrov. However, the mixed reaction of the public and the Russian media forced Chechen officials to justify themselves, explaining that there is nothing immodest in the position of “mekhk-da”, these are simply national characteristics.
Thus, State Duma deputy from the republic Adam Delimkhanov said that the expression translates as “highest official.” The Chairman of the Chechen Parliament, Magomed Daudov, translated “mekhk-da” as “a leader responsible for his people.” Minister of Press and Information Akhmed Dudayev referred to the fact that 2023 has been declared the year of the Chechen language in the region, and Kadyrov’s new title is connected with this. The head of the Ministry of Nationalities proposed his own “semantic translation” of this expression - “head of the republic.”
Native speakers of the Chechen language say that both “mekhk” and “da” are ambiguous words; Kadyrov’s new title can literally be translated as “master of the land.” At the same time, historians deny that such a title was ever used in Chechen society. Moreover, it contradicts the popular worldview, which rejected the class hierarchy.
Some political scientists believe that the appearance of such a title is another evidence of attempts to consolidate one-man rule and create a cult of personality in the republic, although we are talking more about the cult of an entire family, and these are already monarchical claims. Kadyrov’s mother Aimani, president of the Akhmat Kadyrov Foundation, after whom the mosque in Argun is named, has long been called “mekhk-nana” (“mother of the people”, “mother of the region”, “mother of the earth”) at the official level.