A legend says that the ancestor of all Chechens – Nokhchuo – was born with a piece of iron in one hand and a piece of cheese in the other. “Grace seldom rests on places unfrequented by guests,” “a guest brings joy,””the longer the guest’s way to your house, the more respect you owe him…” Many sayings, legends and fables focus on the sacred law of hospitality.

We share a summary of the book “Vainakh Ethics” on customs and traditions of Chechens by Edi Isaev. It  is an utmost important work.

In his formative monograph on abrechestvo, Yuri Botiakov argues that the abrek exists on the threshold dividing death from life.[1] He counter poses this view with Russian and Soviet ethnography’s traditional reading of abrechestvo, which has typically seen it simply as an exalted form of robbery. Botiakov asks his readers, “Is it correct to see ‘professional robbery’ as the main idea, which united abreks in all the various incarnations of this social institution?”  and then works towards a more nuanced theory of abrechestvo, using source texts which dwell on the ways on which the classic abrek transcends the “bandit” moniker. […]

“Desert Mirages”, a short story by famous Chechen writer Taisa Irs. It was the only one translated story of the 2008 Short Story Competition at ShortStoryRadio.com webpage.

Here you can find the list of well known or most used Chechen women names:

Here you can find the list of well known or most used Chechen men names: