Chechen Diasporas hold coordinated action in memory of deportation

On February 23, actions, dedicated to anniversary of deportation of Chechens and Ingushes in 1944, were held in Helsinki, Oslo, Copenhagen, Warsaw, Istanbul, Paris, Vienna, Antwerp and Kiev. The events, organized by Chechen Diasporas, were also held in the capital of Jordan, and in Georgia – in Tbilisi and Pankisi Gorge.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that for the third year in a row Chechnya holds no commemorative events on February 23. The Day of Memory and Sorrow was marked in the Chechen Republic on February 23, the day of Stalin's deportation, but in 2011 it was transferred to May 10.

In Jordan, the action, dedicated to the 72nd anniversary of deportation of Vainakhs, was held on February 23 in Amman, in front of the Russia's Embassy, said Djafar Ismail, one of the organizers, who added that, under his estimate, the action was about 300 people strong.

Djafar Ismail has also said that the action "was an enlightening one," and its members "are focused on peace and creativity", and added that he "does not understand how it is possible to prohibit residents of Chechnya to commemorate the tragedy of 1944."

Akhmed Gisaev, a member of the Chechen Diaspora in Norway, said that in different cities around the world the actions were held at Russian Embassies.

In Georgia's Pankisi Gorge, "the action was held for first time to mark the anniversary of the deportation of Vainakhs", said one of its organizers Sulkhan Bordzikoshvilli.

Let us remind you that Ingushetia has marked the anniversary of deportation of the Ingush and Chechen peoples by a rally and collective prayer at the Memorial of Memory and Fame in Nazran.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.