Residents of Chechnya disagree to combine Remembrance Day with mourning for Akhmat Kadyrov

Today, Chechnya marks the Peoples' Remembrance and Sorrow Day, established by the leadership of the republic in 2011. However, not all local residents are ready to perceive May 10 as the day of mourning, believing that the leadership has replaced the nationwide mourning for the victims of Stalin's deportation for the mourning for the first president of Chechnya Akhmat Kadyrov.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that May 10 was established as the date of official mourning events for the victims of deportation by the order of the head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov in 2011. On the same day, on May 10, the funeral of Akhmat Kadyrov, killed as a result of the terror act committed at the Grozny "Dynamo" Stadium on May 9, 2004, took place. Earlier, the Remembrance and Sorrow Day was marked in Chechnya on February 23, the day of the start of deportation of Chechens and Ingushes to Kazakhstan and Central Asia in 1944.

Most of local residents believe that the authorities are trying to erase the events of February 1944 from the people's memory, and to establish the Kadyrovs' cult in the republic.

"For any self-respecting Chechen, February 23 was, is and will be the mourning day for the victims of Stalin's deportation. Even the Soviet power failed, for decades, make us forget about this tragedy; moreover, our current authorities will not manage to do it, although, I must say, they make just incredible efforts towards it," said Raisa, a teacher with a 30-year experience.

Abusaid, a resident of Grozny, agrees with her. "For me, my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, February 23 was, is and will be the day of national mourning," he said.

In his opinion, it was immoral to shift the day to May 10.

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