18:56, 4 February 2021

Rights defenders oppose an idea of "special forces" tour to Chechnya on February 23

A "special forces tour" to Chechnya. Photo: https://elgastour.ru/tours/chechenskaya-respublika/militari-tur

Organization of "special forces" tours to Chechnya on the anniversary of the deportation of the Vainakh people offends the feelings of the republic's residents, Ruslan Kutaev, the president of the Assembly of Caucasian Nations, and human rights defender Oyub Titiev believe.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that two Chechen travel agencies offered their clients a "special forces tour" to the republic on February 23 as an idea of an "ideal gift" on the Defender of the Fatherland Day. One of the tours is scheduled for four days, from February 20 to 23. However, in Chechnya, like in neighbouring Ingushetia, people mark the day of February 23 as the anniversary of the 1944 deportation.

The operation under the coded name of "Chechevitsa" (lentils), during which nearly 500,000 people were evicted from Chechnya and Ingushetia to Kazakhstan and Central Asia, was held from February 23 to March 9, 1944. Mass desertions, evading the conscription at wartime and a preparation of an armed uprising in the Soviet rear were announced as the grounds for the deportation.

Ruslan Kutaev, the president of the Assembly of Caucasian Nations, called an idea to hold entertainment events on February 23 "a mockery." "An entertainment event held namely on the day of February 23 means a disregard of the Chechens' feelings. It is a provocation, conscious or unconscious. For us, February 23 is a day of mourning," Ruslan Kutaev emphasized.

The president of the Assembly of Caucasian Nations did not rule out that the idea of "special forces" tours has a political pretext. "Vladimir Putin and his close associates are militarists. Georgia, Ukraine, Syria. I even do not mention that it all began with the Chechen Republic. An endless stream of hostilities. Yes, they want to make money on this topic," Ruslan Kutaev told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Human rights defender Oyub Titiev considers it incorrect to hold the "special forces" tour on the tragic date for the Chechen people.

"For all Chechens, February 23 is the most difficult, mourning day in history. And no matter what the authorities want to change, the people's perception of the tragedy of this day will not change," Oyub Titiev told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on February 4, 2021 at 02:54 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Source: CK correspondent