Russian city to name street after Armenian war veteran

The municipal authorities of the Russian city of Penza have proposed a new name for one of their streets to honor Vladimir Kerkhanjaev, an ethnic Armenian veteran of the Great Patriotic War.

The author of the idea is Anatoly Ovcharenko, a member of the city council, Penzanews.ru reports.

“We must demonstrate respect for not only deceased veterans but also those who are alive and with us today,” he said.

Mayor Nikolay Taktarov has accepted Ovcharenko’s proposal and is now reportedly waiting for its written submission to specialists.

Kerkhajaev, 94, has Armenian and Greek roots. A native Alaverdi (Armenia’s Lori province), he was drafted to the Soviet military in 1942. In the war period, Kerkhajaev is known to have rendered about 1,800 explosives harmless.