September 5, 2006 -- Chechnya's Moscow-backed prime minister has dismissed a proposal by the republic's president to rename Chechnya.
Ramzan Kadyrov said such a move would be "economically inexpedient."
Chechen President Alu Alkhanov said on September 4 the current name had a negative connotation and proposed renaming Chechnya the Republic of Nokhchiin.
Russian officials also dismissed the proposal.
(AP, Interfax)