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Alpinists to raise flags of Russia, Chechnya and ITAR-TASS on Iran’s highest peak

The team will climb the highest peaks in the Caucasus, Europe and Near Asia as part of the VERKITAL 25 000 international project devoted to the 110th anniversary of ITAR-TASS

A view of Ararat (archive) ITAR-TASS/Robert Netelev

A view of Ararat (archive)

© ITAR-TASS/Robert Netelev

GROZNY, June 23. /ITAR-TASS/. A group of Chechen alpinists is beginning to ascend Iran’s highest peak, Mount Damavand, Maxim Bugayev, a member of the expedition, said on Monday, June 23.

“On Saturday our team, for the first time in the history of Chechen mountaineering, reached the top of the legendary Mount Ararat, 5,137 meters high, and put up there Russian and Chechen flags, a flag bearing the image of Chechnya’s first President Akhmat-Khadzhi Kadyrov, and a flag with the logo of ITAR-TASS. Today we are beginning our ascent to Mount Damavand, 5,610 meters high, the highest of the five peaks to be ‘conquered’ as part of this project,” Bugayev said.

The team will climb the highest peaks in the Caucasus, Europe and Near Asia as part of the VERKITAL 25 000 international project devoted to the 110th anniversary of ITAR-TASS to be celebrated this year. The alpinists will ascend five peaks in four countries, the combined height of which is 25,000 meters.

The project has been launched by the Federation of Alpinism, Tourism and Mountain Sports in association with the regional branch of the Russian Geographical Society in an attempt to “develop inter-regional and international ties with Chechnya in the field of tourism and sport” and promote the region’s image.

ITAR-TASS is the general information partner of the project.

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