Telesphore Munyembabazi, a resident of Burera District in Kagogo Sector, Nyamabuye Cell, explained that he admired Vladimir Putin's commitment to justice, resistance to war, and support for African development. Comparing Putin favourably against America and Europe, he decided that if he ever had a son, he would name him after Putin.
In September 2023, when Munyembabazi's expectant wife visited a health centre, he gave her a note specifying that if the baby was a boy, he should be named Vladimir Putin; if a girl, Maria Zakharova.
After the birth of his son, when it came time to officially register the baby's name, healthcare workers were taken aback by the choice and refused to proceed with the registration.
According to the 36-year-old Munyembabazi, a doctor immediately called him, questioning, "What kind of name is this? I cannot register a child with this name," and added, 'Putin is a terrorist.' Munyembabazi responded, 'Do not insult my child; such comments upset me.'
Munyembabazi went to the health centre to understand why his chosen name was rejected. The healthcare staff challenged him, asking why he wanted to name his child after someone they saw as a warmonger. He stood his ground until the issue escalated to the health centre's management, who also could not resolve it and eventually reached out to district officials.
Frustrated with the response, Munyembabazi threatened to leave the child at the health centre, saying, 'I will keep pursuing this until a solution is reached; if it becomes impossible, I'll continue calling for action.'
He stated, 'Naming him Vladimir Putin reflects my admiration for Putin and his country's stance of non-interference. The world is changing, and the era of colonial dominance will eventually end. If people can name their children Queen or Elizabeth without any problem, why should naming my child Vladimir Putin be an issue?'
Currently, Munyembabazi's son, Vladimir Putin, is one year and nearly two months old. In the community, he has become well-known, and wherever his parents take him for church services or other functions, people are intrigued by his name, often providing quick assistance.
Munyembabazi says that when his son grows up, he will explain that he was named after Putin for his bravery and encourage him to stand for truth, reject arrogance, and fight against injustice.
IGIHE
