LJ user timur-aliev has posted three New Year's snapshots [1] taken in Grozny [2], the capital of Chechnya [3], which the United Nations called “the most destroyed city on earth [4]” in 2003.
Below is the Chechen blogger's brief account of the festivities – and a couple of clarifications from the comments section (RUS):
I rang in the New Year together with the rest of the republic – by the fir tree in Grozny. Just five hours before the New Year's, however, I was sure that I'd sleep through this whole thing because of a sudden blackout in our apartment (and in the one below). I'd already been through the experience of having our electricity shut off and I understood that we'd be able to fix it no sooner than in a week. But they restored power in an hour and we set off for the [New Year's festivities] with clear conscience. Here are the results of my expedition.
[three photos [1]]
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5_513:
Were fireworks and firecrackers allowed?
timur_aliev:
I don't know whether they were allowed, but they were there alright…
mgtverskoy:
Great photos. Everything's decorated beautifully. […]
timur_aliev:
Yes, but these are the most decorated areas, of course… […]
mgtverskoy:
Decoration of the whole city is a matter of time. It'll happen soon.
varfolomeev66:
Wow, it looks like life in Chechnya is indeed getting better :)
Everything looks very cute on the photos.timur_aliev:
Life, of course, isn't really the way it appears on the photos (I've deliberately picked the brightest ones), but still, it is improving :))