Some twenty years ago it was still a great men's holiday for us. Officially it was called «The Day of the Soviet Army and Navy». Though from the stories told by our parents we all knew that it was on this day, on February 23, 1944, that at gun point of the brave NKVD members all the Ingush were evicted from their houses and sent to western Siberia and Kazakhstan in draughty vans. All. Nearly 90 thousand of them - most socially unprotected citizens – the elderly, women and children. In addition to those eleven thousands, which were fighting for the victory during the Great Patriotic War, shoulder to shoulder with their companions-in-arms. Later, before the end of the war, the latter, would be gradually withdrawn from the front, arrested under various pretexts, deprived of military medals, titles and sent to the new places of residence of their relatives.
In due time this terrible fate was suffered by the Chechens, Balkars, Kalmyks, Karachai... The emptied territories, villages and houses were immediately occupied by representatives of other nationalities, formerly residing in the neighborhood. And even if some of them received from the state a house or a yard of their neighbor as a reward for special «loyalty», they could never experience full-fledged joy. It is hard to imagine what a person feels in such a case, knowing that the owner of the house, or his descendant, can return at any time and demand what is his. What king of life can it be then...
But everything in the world is changeable and transient. After thirteen years of exile people began returning to their homeland. In the years 1957-1958 were restored national autonomies. On November 14, 1989, under the Declaration of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR were rehabilitated all the peoples, including the Chechen and Ingush, acts of repression against them on the state level in the form of policy of calumny, genocide, forced resettlement, abolition of nation-state entities, establishment of a regime of terror and violence in places of special settlements, were recognized illegal and criminal. In 1991 was passed a law on the rehabilitation of the repressed peoples.
On 4 June, 1992, was formed the Ingush Republic within the Russian Federation. At present, on the territory of the republic has entered into force another Russian law – on the formation of the local self-government bodies. Of course, all this contributes to the unity of the entire Russian people. Thus, all the holidays must be holidays, and all the events – should remain events.
In my opinion, it's strange that on the day when the vast majority honors the defenders of the Motherland, the Ingush mark the Day of mourning and grief. Is it that the spirit of those who was always ready to defend their homeland - the Great Russia – is crushed? Of course, not. The biggest monument to the victims of political repressions in Russia is erected in the republic, smallest in its territory, as if a giant nail driven into the heaven, which is a powerful reminder of the black days of our history. Those living now should remember the deceased and perform a relevant ceremony in their memory. And at the same time to congratulate heartily all those, strong by spirit and undefeated, on the Day of Defenders of the Motherland. Congratulations! |
FACT
