Putin awards Heroic Mother title to Medni Kadyrova, mother of Ramzan Kadyrov’s 14 children

The Soviet-era “Heroic Mother” award is back as an official state award in Russia.

President Vladimir Putin has just awarded the first two Heroic Mother titles since the award’s re-institution. They are going to Medni Kadyrova, who is married to the Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, and to the Yamalian resident Olga Degtyarenko. Both women are being recognized for their “accomplishments in strengthening the institute of family and in raising children.” Apart from the honorary title, each of them is receiving a million rubles.

Putin signed the decree that revived the Heroic Mother award in mid-August. According to the document, a woman becomes eligible for the title if she is a Russian citizen and has raised 10 or more children who are also Russian citizens.

In the USSR, the Heroic Mother title existed since 1944. Its recipients were awarded a medal and granted various subsidies. More than 400,000 women had received the title before the collapse of the USSR.

According to official information, Ramzan Kadyrov and Medni Kadyrova have 14 children. Medni Kadyrova is also the vice-president of the Akhmat Kadyrov Foundation, and the deputy head of the Chechen leader’s administrative office.

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