Karachaevo-Circassia holds actions in memory of deportation of Karachay people

On November 2, the Drama Theatre of the city of Cherkessk hosted a mourning session of the Republic's public to commemorate the deportation day of one of the nations of Karachaevo-Circassia.

Also, November 2 was the 180th anniversary of the battle of Russian and Karachay armies at the foot of Elborus, after which the Karachay authorities decided to go under jurisdiction of Russian Emperor.

"Let the tragedy of the Karachay people and other repressed North-Caucasian nations never repeat, and we must always remember that such danger exists - I mean Saakashvili's regime, from whom our fraternal nations of South Ossetia have suffered," said President of Karachaevo-Circassia Boris Ebzeev at the meeting.

The President has mentioned that the Karachay nation had lost more than forty thousand its best sons and daughters, having left them, "in, one would think, alien land for these nations."

"In fact, during these 14 years the lands of Kazakhstan and Middle Asia became our native ground. And those people who had accepted echelons with deportees shared bread, salt and shelter with them, demonstrated the strength of friendship of the nations who inhabited Soviet Union and Russia," said the head of Karachaevo-Circassia.

At the end of the meeting in the Drama Theatre, the audience watched the 25-minute documentary filmed by Vladimir Makarov and named "Deportation"; the film presents documents and tells a brief deportation history of the Karachay people.

Zemfira Dzhukkaeva, deputy director for upbringing of the Terezin secondary school of the Malokarachay District, who brought their schoolchildren to the film show, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that children have interest to this page of Karachay history.

She also said that knew nothing what the law stipulated as compensation to the rehabilitated population.

"Neither local television, nor radio or printed media ever say anything about the privileges due to us, our rights and compensations. <...> All information is spread at the level of rumours. No work is done in this aspect by district or rural administrations. After 8000 roubles compensations were granted to our parents, nothing was heard about our rights," she added.