12:00, 6 March 2009

On March 8, Kabardino-Balkaria marks 65 years of Balkar people's deportation

On March 8, Kabardino-Balkaria will mark the Memory Day of 1944 deportation victims among the Balkar nation. A mourning rally will be held in Nalchik, at the memorial to deportation victims.

"Besides, officials from the Spiritual Authority of Moslems of Kabardino-Balkaria will administer the rite of commemoration prayer (dua)," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told at the Board of Elders of the Balkar People.

For reference: Balkars were deported on March 8, 1944. The eviction operation took just two hours. As a whole, 37,713 persons were resettled. Out of all deported Balkars, 52 percent were children, 30 percent were women, and 18 percent were males: invalids who came back from the war, and very old men. During their 18 days en route, in unfit railway cars, 562 persons died from famine, cold and diseases.

Author: Louisa Orazaeva

Source: CK correspondent