Across the world, including in Ukraine and Europe, commemorating the victims of Stalin's deportation of Chechens and Ingush people are currently taking place.
A commemorative rally was held in Vienna, honoring the memory of the victims of Stalin's deportation—those who were forcibly deprived of their homeland, those who died en route, and those who did not survive the harsh conditions of exile, facing cold, hunger, and deprivation.
At the same time, a conference, "Deportations of Peoples—An Imperial Crime of Genocide," was held in Lviv, Ukraine, to commemorate the 82nd anniversary of the tragedy. An exhibition dedicated to the history of the genocide of the Chechen people was presented as part of the conference. The event brought together representatives of the national movements of the affected peoples, public figures, military personnel and veterans, members of the Lviv Regional Council, and leaders of the Lviv Regional Administration. The conference and exhibition were organized by the Lviv Regional Center for Preparing the Population for National Resistance "Defense of Lviv Region" in collaboration with academics and public organizations, with the support of the Regional Council.
Akhmed Zakayev, head of the government of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria in exile, spoke at the conference via video link from London.
Commemorative events were also held today in Chechnya, Ingushetia, and the Chechen village of Aukha in Dagestan. Several hundred people came to the memorial complex in the Dagestani village of Novokuli (Yaryksu). In Nazran, at the Memorial of Memory and Glory, over 500 people participated.
"82 years ago, our people experienced a tragedy that forever changed the fates of Ingush families and left a deep mark on our history. "Today in Nazran, at the Memorial of Memory and Glory, we honored the memory of the victims of the deportation. We recalled the resilience of our elders, their wisdom, and their strength of spirit, thanks to which the Ingush people endured, preserved their dignity, and continue to confidently move forward," said Makhmud-Ali Kalimatov, the head of Ingushetia, on his Telegram channel.
In Chechnya, where no official events commemorating the anniversary of the deportation had been held for several years, the memory has been revived in recent years.
Head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov wrote on his Telegram channel:
"Today, an event commemorating the 82nd anniversary of the deportation of the Chechen people was held at the memorial to the victims of political repression and those who died in the fight against international terrorism. Representatives of government agencies, law enforcement agencies, clergy, public organizations, and residents of the republic gathered here to honor the memory of those who fell victim to the tragic events of February 1944."
Kadyrov noted that "Stalin's repressions are cruel pages in world history—people were deprived of their homeland, their homes were destroyed, their culture was annihilated." He added that "during that period, everything was done to erase the very reminder that Chechens had lived on this land for centuries." However, the head of Chechnya is confident that "the memory of this monstrous crime will forever remain in our hearts."
"We remember our national tragedy and will never forget it! But our people will not dwell solely on the tragic past," Ramzan Kadyrov wrote.
