Natives of Shyky in KBR decide to restore the village

Natives of the village of Shyky, Cherek District of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR) have decided to restore their village. At a meeting on April 14 in Nalchik they elected the organizing committee of five members, and instructed them to draft the charter of the future village Shyky.

The village of Shyky ceased to exist in 1943, after its residents were deported on Stalin's order to Central Asia. After the return of Balkars in 1957, some of the villages, including Shyky, were not been restored; and residents were resettled in lowland areas.

Aznor Khochiev, a native of Shyky, who was present at the meeting of April 14, told that his father had dreamed from the time he returned from Central Asia to return to Shyky and restore his house.

"We've heard all the time from childhood that we need to return. We go there on foot as pilgrims to a holy place. There, we forget about fatigue," said Aznor Khochiev.

Zeit Gaev was born in Shyky; he was 4 years old when Balkars evicted. His parental house was shown to him by Magomed Shavaev, a resident of Bezengi, who is now 89 years old.

"I deliberately took with me Magomed Shavaev, now a resident of Bezengi; he also comes from Shyky; and he showed me the basement of our house," said Zeit Gaev. According to his story, he has two sons; and they intend to restore the grandfather's home.