81st Anniversary of the Chechen and Ingush Forced Deportation
Adel Bashqawi
February 23, 2025
Destinations of the resettled Chechens and Ingush inside the Soviet Union in the far reaches of Central Asia
To honor the memory of the forced deportation that followed World War II—an act that sought to deny national dignity and fundamental human rights, in addition to committing the crime of genocide—we must remember the suffering endured by the Chechen and Ingush peoples. Entire communities were subjected to forced expulsion from their homeland, sent to the far reaches of Central Asia.
February 23rd is a significant and somber date for the Chechen and Ingush peoples. It marks the 81st anniversary of the mass deportation and extermination of Chechens and Ingush by the Soviet Union in 1944 during Stalin’s dictatorship. Nearly half a million people were forcibly removed from their ancestral homeland in a brutal forced transfer. The journey was grueling, and as many as one-fourth of the deportees perished due to the harsh weather, inhumane transport conditions, and severe hardships they faced upon arrival to their final destinations.
The deportation had a profound impact on the Chechen and Ingush peoples, both demographically and culturally. It remains one of the most devastating events in their history. Although they were allowed to return to their homeland in 1957 and re-establish the Chechen-Ingush Republic, the Russian state has never issued an official apology or provided adequate compensation for this historical injustice.
Return of Chechens and Ingush to their homeland
Chechnya and Ingushetia are among the indigenous nations of the North Caucasus, with a rich history of resilience and defiance in the face of oppression. Like other indigenous peoples of the region, they have displayed extraordinary bravery against foreign aggressors, particularly the Russian Empire, which, since the time of Ivan the Terrible, has sought to conquer, cleanse, and annex their land. Successive Russian regimes have inflicted immense human and material losses, employing brutal means of destruction to suppress the Chechen and Ingush peoples.
The relationship between Russia on the one hand and Chechnya and Ingushetia on the other has long been characterized by turmoil and mistrust. The Caucasian (Chechen-Ingush) spirit is characterized by an unyielding desire for freedom and independence. Over and over again, even after temporary truces, conflicts flare up again as the Chechens and Ingush continue to struggle for their legitimate right to self-determination.
Russia occupied the eastern part of the North Caucasus during the Russo-Caucasian War. Chechnya, like Ingushetia and Dagestan, fell under Russian control after the surrender of Imam Shamil at the Battle of Gunib in Dagestan in 1859. The Russian occupation and annexation of the North Caucasus has shaped the history of the region since the 19th century, yet the colonial rulers have never been able to suppress the uprisings and resistance. The peoples of the North Caucasus have constantly risen up against their oppressors, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to preserving their identity, culture and sovereignty.
A postcard by Denev Dagon showing the Chechen Memorial in the center of Grozny. It was partially destroyed by Russian shelling, then dismantled by the local authorities. The inscription on the wall reads: “We will not cry! We will not break! We will not forget!”
