Local sources have reported that the deportation memorial in Grozny was dismantled by the pro-Kremlin regime in the Russian occupied Chechen Republic of Ichkeria.

In 1992, under the initiative of Dzhokhar Dudaev, a monument was established in the center of Grozny in memory of the deportation of the entire Chechen people in 1944 under direct orders of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. Chechen artist Darchi Khasakhanov constructed a monument with tombstones which were found on the grounds of Soviet buildings all over Chechnya. In the monument he used a hand with a dagger. The monument quickly became a symbol, not just commemorating the deportation on February 23, but praying for all the victims. In 2008, the pro-Kremlin regime tried to remove the monument, but due to the public outrage, they erected 3 metres long barriers around it and forbid anyone from visiting it.

On February 12, residents of Grozny witnessed foreign workers dismantling the deportation monument and attaching the tombstones in front of the pro-Russian regime’s shameful monument which represents their “hero” police who fought alongside Russian invaders to torture or kill fellow citizens.

“The Deportation Memorial should remain in its own place. This is a mockery of the historical memory of the people, and the desire to erase the events of the last three decades from the memories of the people,” said a local resident who wanted to remain anonymous.

“Moving these tombstones to the monument of killed pro-Russian police officers, is an attempt to justify their actions. There is no association between deportation and their armed forces who were killed. In fact, everything is done solely in order to remove the memorial. It is such a “gift” on the 70th anniversary of the deportation by the pro-Russian government to the people,” said another Grozny resident, Aslambek Sh.

Recall that pro-Kremlin regime has also forbidden commemoration of the massive deportation in 1944, on the day it happened, “February 23”, and instead, they ordered people to commemorate it on May 10, the victory day for the Soviet army, alongside fallen Soviet soldiers during World War II.

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