Chechnya prepares to mark 66th anniversary of deportation of Chechens and Ingushes

February 23 will be 66 years after deportation of Chechens under Stalin's order, when about half of the population of former Chechen-Ingushetia was lost from famine, frosts and illnesses. Chechnya will mark this tragic anniversary with mourning actions, immolations and various religious ceremonies.

"On February 23, residential sites of the republic will hold immolations; prayers will be read and zikras committed in memory of our compatriots who perished in the 1944 deportation. Under tradition, the meat of sacrificial animals will be given to needy people and families," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told in the local Muftiyat.

The events in commemoration of the tragic date will be also held by the ministries of culture, education and sciences and other agencies. In particular, the documentary film "Buran" about the hard fate of Chechen families evicted to Kazakhstan will be shown in Grozny for the first time. Besides, Chechnya prepares to publish books of memory with the names of all citizens of the republic, who were killed at eviction and died from famine, frosts and illnesses in the course of deportation and first years away from home.

In the end of last week, Chechnya saw an event directly connected with the 1944 deportation, which was a real shock for many residents of the republic. The city of Urus-Martan welcomed Nurset Vorobyova, a native of Chechnya, who lost in 1944, as well as hundreds or even thousands Chechen children, her relatives.

Vorobyova's real name is Deshi Dzhabrailova. She was brought up in a children's home in the city of Frunze. Her new name and surname were given to her in that children's home. Vorobyova-Dzhabrailova, now over 70, could find her family 66 years after her eviction.