Ichkeria.info website announced the demonstrations and the appeal of “Free Caucasus” organization on February 23, the day of genocide of Waynakh (Chechen and Ingush) people by Red Army and the World Chechnya Day.

On 23 February 1944, Stalin ordered the deportation of the entire Chechen and Ingush population to the steppes of Central Asia and Siberia. More than half of the 500,000 people who were to be forcibly transported died in transit or in massacres committed by Soviet troops. In 2004, sixty years after the event, the European Parliament passed a motion that recognised this catastrophe as “Genocide” and declared that 23rd February is “World Chechnya Day”. It is a day that none should not forget. In this aim and also protesting for the actual occupying and war crimes of Russian forces in Chechnya, the protest demonstrations will held.

A protest demonstration in front of the Russian Embassy in Paris will be realized between 17.00 and 19.00 hours on February 23. (Address: Angle du Boulevard Lannes et de la rue Dufre’noy Paris 16e`me. Меtro Station: Porte Dauphine). In Berlin, capital of Germany, it will be in front of the Branderbugskih Bridge during the day. Another protest meeting will held in Brussel, in front of the European Comission between 15.00-17.00. In Vienna, capital of Austria, the protest meeting will be start at 10.00 a.m.  in front of the Schwarzerbergerplatz monument. And finally, the action in Czech Republic’s capital Prague will start at Petrin Hill on 16.00.

On the other hand, “Free Caucasus” organization published an appeal on February 23:

Dear Compatriots!

On the 23rd February, 1944 Soviet (Russian) Empire committed severe and terrible crime. On this horrible day Chechen and Ingush people were exiled from Caucasus (from homeland). On the Soviet Army day, when the Russian soldiers decided to celebrate this day throughout, including the mountains, in fact, in the villages and the cities they amassed the native population, arrested the men at once, while women and children were commanded to be prepared instantly for an exile. During 2-3 hours the whole nation was arrested. The Chechen and the Ingush people were driven in the truck wagons as a live-stock and were exiled to faraway Kazakstan and different republics of the Middle Asia –more than 478 thousand man altogether. By reason of cross-country and snowstorm in the mountainous villages 6 thousand Chechens were shoot dead on the ground, or drown in the Galanchoji lake; In the village Khaibakh more than 700 man were locked in the stable and burnt. Merely during an exile days more than 200 thousand man, i.e. 50% of Vainakhi population died. Soviet Russia virtually realized the dream of the czarist Russia – enslaving or a physical destruction of the Caucasians. Chechens’ and Ingushs’ 1944 year deportation was a real genocide of these nations.

In Russia Putin-Medvedev’s genocide policy of Caucasian nations is being carried on up to the present day, the vivid proof of which appears to be those crimes that are committed in Chechen Republic Ichkeria, while started from 1994 till the present day Russian occupants entirely rooted away Chechen infrastructure, razed to the ground towns and villages, killed almost 300 thousand people; among them: 42 thousand children; more than 70 thousand adults became orphans, or crippled, more than 20 thousand people are disappeared; In Russian jails and prisons (in concentration camps) more than 5 thousand people languish without any motivation, among them 5 hundred women. Totally 30% of the Chechen population died in this war.

Our duty is not to burry in oblivion Chechens’ and Ingushs’ genocide day – 23rd of February and to demand from the International organizations, from the authorities of the democratic countries the recognition of this genocide. We should withstand together the Russian policy aiming the execution of human murder in Caucasus.

Unrecognized genocide of Chechens and Ingushs is not only the pain of the Caucasians. Everyone should learn about this genocide. Visual demonstration of human beings’ destruction is absolutely unacceptable and inadmissible in the 21st century. One can not reconcile with such reality. Russian political leadership should receive punishment for perfected acts.

We appeal to all men of good will all around the world, for whom the honor and life of men is valuable to gather at the Russian Embassies on the 23rd of February 16.00 to condemn once again loudly in public, letting hear the whole world the 200 year Russian policy of nations’ genocide in Caucasus.

18.02.2010

Free Caucasus