25 February 2019, 10:09
Akkin Chechens mark deportation anniversary
Commemoration of 1944 deportation of Chechens and Ingushes took place on February 23 at the monument to victims of Stalinist repression in the village of Yaryk-Su in Dagestan. Akkin Chechens and delegations from Chechnya and Ingushetia took part in the event.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in 1989, the above monument was erected near the cemetery in Yaryk-Su village, the Novolak District of Dagestan; and since then, every year on February 23, mourning events are held there in memory of deportation victims. They are attended both by local Chechens and those from the border villages of Chechnya, because in Chechnya itself, by the decision of its authorities, in 2011, the Day of Commemoration and Grief was moved from February 23 to May 10; but this date has nothing to do with the start of deportation of Vainakhs.
The operation named "Chechevitsa" (Lentils), during which Chechens and Ingushes were massively evicted from the Chechen-Ingush Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic to Central Asia and Kazakhstan, was conducted from February 23 to March 9, 1944. Because of the snowfall, residents of Khaibakh could not descend from the mountains, which disrupted the deportation schedule. The State Security Commissioner ordered to force villagers – according to various sources, from 200 to 700 people – into the stable and burn them down. Those who tried to escape were shot dead from submachine guns.
On February 23, the mourning events in the Novolak District of Dagestan were attended by more than 10,000 people, Adam Machaev, one of the organizers, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.
According to his story, the events were organized by the executive committee of the Public Council of Dagestani Chechens. The Chechens living in Dagestan were complemented by numerous delegations from Chechnya and Ingushetia, which were headed by high-ranking officials and clergymen of these republics.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on February 24, 2019 at 02:43 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Author: Tatiana Gantimurova Source: CK correspondent
