On September 24, the first Chechen restaurant in Europe is being open in Mechelen, Belgium.

The restaurant is owned by a Chechen family who ran away from the brutal Russian occupation in the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria in 1999. Sinnce then, Musa Malsagov, his wife Lajla Malsagova and their four children have been working hard to create a new and stable life for themselves. Now all six members of the family are focusing on their new project: “Restaurant Shema”.

The family’s children, 24 year old Vakha, 22 year old Skhahid, and 17 year old Kerim are also studying at school. Their 26 year old child, Kameta works for Internal Affairs in Brussels.

“We want to make a difference in Belgian society and do our best to achieve something beautiful. Most people associate Chechnya only with war and we want to change that image. I worked at this restaurant while I was going to school but back then it was a Spanish restaurant. They suggested that we buy it and our dreams would be realized. We will serve both Belgian and Chechen food,” said Kameta.

“Everyone in our family is a shareholder in the restaurant. According to my knowledge it is the first Chechen restaurant in Belgium. Belgians are really warm people and their attitudes are very cordial. We want to thank all of our friends, acquaintances, and the whole country for the life which we were able to create here,” said 46 year old Lajla Malsagova, who has worked for 9 years in city hall in Mechelen.

The restaurant will open on September 24 and will operate the whole week except Thursdays between 06.00pm-10.00pm.

For further information and reservations, you may reach the restaurant which is situated at Zandpoortvest 22 Mechelen, via their e-mail address: restaurant.shema@hotmail.be or via their telephone numbers: 015 20 95 79 and 015 34 05 32.

*Text was written by Waynakh Online and edited by Michael Capobianco