Ingushetia holds ceremonies dated to 67th anniversary of deportation

In Ingushetia, where today they commemorate victims of the total deportation of Ingush nationals to Middle Asia and Kazakhstan in 1944; several hundreds of persons took part in a nationwide rally that took place near the Memorial Complex to Victims of Political Repressions.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Vakha Chapanov, head of the IA "Maximum", who attended the event, that the rally was attended by the head of the republic Yunus-Bek Evkurov, Chairman of the People's Assembly Makhmud Sakalov, local clergy, public activists and ordinary citizens of the republic. "People talked about the tragedy and about the must for the nation to unite; there were many young people there," he said.

Also, in memory of deportation victims, sacrificial meat was spread among residents; and they performed Mawlids (religious songs).

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Madina Tumgoeva, 86, who survived deportation, that her family was wealthy, but the exile deprived them of all their property. "We could take only the most necessary things for survival. We saw famine, cold and death everywhere. I'll never forget how bodies of dead persons were buried directly into the snow at railroad stations," she said.

According to her story, in Kazakhstan, where the Tumgoev family arrived, the exiles were initially treated unfriendly. "I remember that rumours were spread by the Soviet power among Kazakhs that we were a sort of cannibals and criminals. Therefore, when we arrived there they shut their door to us. So, one day, exhausted by cold, we entered some house, in spite of owner's objections, just to warn up. Then, we lived at some base. We greeted the news about our return with great joy," said Tumgoeva.