Dagestan opens memorial sign to participants of Caucasian War

Today, the memorial sign to pay tribute to the memory of participants of the Caucasian War was opened near the village of Gunib in Dagestan.

The memorial sign is a block of stone with a plaque carrying an inscription in Arabic, Avar and Russian languages reading: "In memory of people's heroism at war in Caucasus". The memorial sign was built from funds allocated by the Dagestani Humanities Research Centre named after Imam Shamil.

Till present, Dagestan had no monument, no memorial sign dedicated to the historical events of the 19^th century. This was told to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by historian Khadjimurad Donogo, Chairman of the Humanities Research Centre.

"It was built in Gunib where the final act of the Caucasian War in the territory of Dagestan took place, where Shamil gave up the fight," Khadjimurad Donogo has said.

The aul (village) of Gunib was the last stronghold of Imam Shamil. At night on September 6, 1859, Shamil was besieged by the imperial troops there and on the next day, after a fierce bayonet attack, he surrendered on honourable terms.

When asked whether the organizers of the action are not afraid of accusations of encouraging separatist sentiments, the Chairman of the Humanities Research Centre answered: "I understand that you have in mind the history of the Chechen monument. However, what kind of separatist sentiments the memorial sign can inflame? It is just the memory of the people's heroism in that fight."