Chechnya marks Day of Memory and Grief

Today, residents of Chechnya mark the Day of Memory and Grief for the nations of the republic; the holiday was established in 2011. Earlier, this date was marked on February 23, the day of the deportation in 1944 of Chechens and Ingushes to Kazakhstan and Central Asia.

This morning, the leadership of the republic, members of the parliament, heads of district administrations and the clergy visited the grave of the former head of the republic, Akhmad Kadyrov, who was killed on May 9, 2004, as a result of a terror act at the Grozny "Dynamo" Stadium. It is noteworthy that the funeral of the former head of the republic was held on May 10, the day, which is now declared the Day of Memory and Grief of the peoples of Chechnya.

"Religious events and sacrifices dedicated to the memory of our first president, Akhmad Kadyrov, were held yesterday at various locations and mosques across the republic. Today, on the Day of Memory and Grief of the nations of the republic, Chechnya also hosts a variety of events on the occasion of several tragic dates in the history of our people, namely, the first and foremost, the Stalinist deportation in 1944 and other nation-scale tragedies, including, of course, the death of Akhmad Kadyrov," said an official from the office of the head and the government of Chechnya.

The main events will be held in the memorial complex "Alley of Glory" in the centre of Grozny. On the eve, on May 9, a cattle railway wagon, cordoned with barbed wire, with inscription "1944-1957" (dates of deportation of Chechens and their return to their homeland), was installed in the territory of the complex. Such wagons were used in February 1944 to deport hundreds of thousands of Chechens and Ingushes to Kazakhstan and Central Asia. According to the International Society "Memorial", in 1943-44, 485,000 people were deported from Chechnya and Ingushetia. The mass desertion, draft evasion during the war and the preparation of an armed uprising in the Soviet rear were announced as the reasons for deportation.

"The territory of the complex will host a memorial rally; after which the Mosque 'Heart of Chechnya' will be the venue of religious rites. In the evening, the State Theatre and Concert Hall in Grozny will house a solemn sitting on the occasion of the Day of Memory and Grief of the nations of the republic," said a source from the Grozny Mayoralty.

On May 10, under the decision of the authorities, public transport will be free.

Residents of the country have different attitudes to the transfer of the Day of Memory and Grief from February 23 to May 10.

"Our parents and grandparents were deported on February 23, not on May 10. The fact that the day fell on the celebration of the Soviet Army Day is not Chechens' guilt. The special commission to define the unified Day of Memory and Grief has associated the date to the day when the funeral of Akhmad Kadyrov took place. If our authorities so badly wanted to celebrate the Soviet Army Day, then, commemoration of deportation could be moved, for example, to February 24," said Adlan, an activist of a local nongovernmental organization.