Moritz Wagner. Chechens. Mark Bliev. Circassia and Circassians, Chechnya and Chechens, Ossetia and Ossetians, Caucasian War - ran55
“I, a Russian, don’t give a damn about your story”
Plexus of the "Caucasian knot" of the third part of the cycle: 1. Georgia and the highlanders of the Caucasus: devoted love. 2. “Russian view: Your peoples are simply unlucky to be in the neighborhood of Russia» ; 3.”Jews don't live here? Disorder means they will live soon! Circassians, Russians and the Chosen People”; 4. " Abkhazians and Chechens against Russians? Abkhazian-Chechen-Circassian-Russian tangle”;
Georgia and the highlanders of the Caucasus: devoted love.
Circassian:
Adzharian independence! Armenian autonomy in Georgia! Menglels are not Georgians. Independent Mengrelia!
Circassian - Georgian:
What I am about to write, read very carefully! When we restore Circassia, we will definitely wipe you freaks off the face of the earth. We will not leave a single Georgian scum and it makes no difference to us with whom you will be and in which military bloc. You scum is the reason for the Russian-Circassian war, and we have not forgotten this and will never forget.
Circassian for Circassian:
We will never forget this. But there is no collective responsibility. As the Bible says, whoever remembers the old is out of his sight. And who will forget that two.
Circassian for Circassian and Georgian:
The rear must always be protected, and therefore, first of all, we will take care of the safety of our rear, which means that you Georgian sluts should not be behind our backs .... We will not cut and kill you, we will drive you back to Persia like sheep and let your Persian brothers deal with you
Circassian:
The Georgian army surrendered in South Ossetia on the 3rd day. I wonder how many heroic feature films will remove the Georgians on this topic. Movies they know how to shoot is a fact.
Megrel - Circassians:
To steal, you need to have brains and talent, and you only know how to sniff a dry piece of sulugun, near an oak tree, mediocrity. what they turned the flowering land into. Loafers, druggies. I can imagine how Russians are sick of your faces, nothing, it won’t be long to wait and they will decide you like your bulldyg brothers, they’ll do it right, the flag in their hands.
Circassian:
Suluguni is a pale shade of Circassian cheese.
Circassian for Georgian:
The Abkhazian and Ossetian projects were followed by the Mingrelian and Adjarian ones. So let's meet in Zugdidi and Batumi. Moreover, I lived in Batumi for 2 years. The people there are good, they hated you, the people of Tbilisi. We will help them.
Circassian - for Circassian:
Georgia is seriously ill with Nazism throughout the 20th century, just the maximum of its external manifestations occurred in the 1990s-2000s. You can't prove anything to them, you can't explain anything. According to history, they still have not officially exposed the concept of Ingorokva. ( Pavle Ingorokva
(1893-1983) - an outstanding Georgian literary critic, historian and ethnographer, made a huge contribution to the formation of modern Georgian statehood. It was he who formulated the theory of the Georgian nation and the concept of the historical borders of Georgia that dominated Georgian thought. Recognized in Georgia as one of the best specialists in classical Georgian literature (in particular, he deciphered the meaning of ancient Georgian singing signs) and the history of the Georgian Middle Ages. According to some reports - Abaza by nationality. He was a member of the "Commission for the establishment of borders between Georgia and Abkhazia" (it included K. Tsereteli, D. Oniashvili, P. Ingorokva and General Odishelidze), created in June 1918 as part of «
Treaty between the government of the Georgian Democratic Republic and the Abkhazian People's Council. He formulated the concept according to which the Abkhaz descend from one of the Georgian tribes, the Abkhaz migrated to the territory of Abkhazia only in the 17th century, “descending from the mountains of the North Caucasus”, and Abkhazia is a primordially Georgian land. For the first time, his concept was announced on June 22, 1917 in the report of Pavle Ingorokva "On the Territory of Georgia" at the founding congress of the National Democratic Party of Georgia. Based on the report, the Congress decided that “the territory of Georgia consists of the provinces of Kartli, Kakheti, Samtskhe-Saatabago, Imereti, Guria, Mengrelia, Svanetia and Abkhazia, which are united by centuries-old state, cultural and economic relations unit." This formula was and is decisive for the leadership of Georgia in all periods of its statehood: under the Menshevik government, in the Soviet period and after the restoration of independence. In its final form, in the appendix to Abkhazia, it is set out in the fundamental study “Giorgi Merchule” published in Georgian in 1954 (publication of the book was not allowed long years). The release of the book caused mass protests in Abkhazia. Since the end of 1988, the leaders of the then Georgian opposition Z. Gamsakhurdia, M. Kostava, A. Bakradze actively promoted this theory at rallies and in the periodical press, making it the rationale for the idea of "Georgia for Georgians", with independence, Ingorokva's concepts became the ideological justification of the armed actions of the governments of Georgia against Abkhazia. The ideas of P. Ingorokva are now widely spread among the Georgian intelligentsia, historians and the entire population of Georgia, they are, one way or another, shared today by almost all the leading medievalists of Georgia. He was buried in the pantheon of prominent public figures in Didube, in Tbilisi. - Abraham Shmulevich). Normal Georgians (and there are quite a few, thank God) of course admit that, like the “Ingorokva school”, no one has compromised the Georgian historical school, but this is practically the official Georgian doctrine and 99% of Georgians will foam at the mouth with nonsense about “ Abkhazians are not Abkhazians” - the Abkhazian kingdom and the founding of Kutatis (Kutaisi) cannot forgive the Abkhazians. When the Georgians stop harassing the Abkhazians, then the Circassians will be their best brothers, as has happened more than once in history. But we will never surrender the Abkhazians how they didn’t pass when Russia helped you, the Georgians, in the summer and autumn of 1992 in full (which the Georgians prefer not to remember). Abkhazians from relatives have only Circassians, and Circassians have only Abkhazians. Therefore, for the sake of outsiders like Georgian, even once loved, we will never betray blood relatives.
Circassian for Georgian:
Why do we need Tbilisi? Ask yourself a question. What for? If you had not started the war in 1992, the Caucasus would have been different. You are responsible for everything. You destroyed the Caucasian unity and plunged the region into geopolitical games. There is already someone with whom. Depends on the situation.
Highlander for Circassian:
Absolutely right - all the peoples of the Caucasus in the 1980s looked at Tbilisi as a symbol of the Caucasian Dream. And at the turn of the 1980/90s, the Georgians destroyed the Caucasian Dream with their own hands, relying on Georgian Nazism. Now there is no turning back.
Circassian - Georgian:
In fact, today, when two sick teeth were pulled out of Georgia, things should get better. All adventures will fly out of my head. Russian border guards will ensure this unconditionally. And the government in Tbilisi will be reluctant, but will deal with the country's problems. The main thing is not to waste time. There is still interest from the great powers. But I'm not sure about the adequacy of the authorities in Tbilisi. Although in Russia everyone celebrates successful fight with corruption. I think if they talk about it in Russia, the successes are apparently impressive.
Circassian:
Let Georgia condemn the Circassian genocide. If Georgia recognizes the independence of Abkhazia and condemns the genocide and deportation of the Circassians, it will open new page in the relationship between the Abkhaz-Circassian and Georgian peoples. But, I'm afraid, the current Georgian authorities have not grown up to the level of Ilya Chavchavadze, who condemned the genocide and deportation back in the 19th century.
Georgian - Circassian:
Abkhazia is not recognized. Genocide is a must, and probably in the near future.
Circassian - Megrelu:
If Georgia recognizes the independence of Abkhazia and condemns the genocide of the Circassians and Vainakhs, global changes will take place in the Caucasus. This will open the way to true reconciliation and the solution of all problems.
Megrel:
Abrek, do you know the history of Abkhazia at all? Where is the Egris lands? up to Sukhumi they are Apsuians, then what is not yours is visible even now. go and see for yourself. just know that as long as your corrupt compatriots are in power, and they will exterminate others with the Russians (as was done in the war of 1993), all is empty chatter. Or could they populate their part of Abkhazia with Circassians and we would recognize it. What Georgia offered everything recent times.
Abkhaz - Megrelian:
Listen, daraga, Georgia has been using lands that do not belong to it from Sukhumi to Psou for so long, so now we can use a little Egris lands, well, a little bit, a little bit, 200-300 years, and then we will give it back.
Russian view: Your peoples are simply unlucky to be in the neighborhood of Russia.
Russian:
Let's talk about Circassians. You raked to the fullest in the Caucasian war, do you want more? Then you were scattered a little, are you stirring up again? So, sheep, we always beat everyone who attacked the Russians, we will beat this time too. Not a problem.
Russian:
Yes, I would rather lose this Caucasus already! With all Caucasians! How much can you pay with Russian blood and Russian money ...
Russian:
Yes, you are sick, Shmulevich, to feed breakfast. When, finally, WHEN will Russia lose the Caucasus? Force events. Zae "ali mountain pancakes with their complexes. Fuck you from Russia!
Russian:
Is it a loss?
Russian - Russian:
"Is this a loss?" Sorry, if you mean Sochi and Krasnaya Polyana, then yes.
Russian:
Oh, God willing, Russia would have taken and lost the Caucasus in fact.
Russian:
As you are all tired of your genocide, the Russians were stronger and smarter, and therefore conquered from the Baltic to the Pacific Ocean, the British behaved the same way, the Spaniards - that's why they created a great white civilization - the fruits of which everyone now enjoys. Sooner or later you will get your freedom like the whole Caucasus - then you are not capable of anything, you will walk around the world with outstretched hands like the former republics of the USSR, and you don’t know how to do anything except washing toilets.
Russian - Chechen:
If necessary, I will come to Grozny again - this is one of the cities of the Federation, an ordinary town founded by Russians. And even better, if we come there again with a "peacekeeping mission") Damn, well, at least Ramzan would start a rebellion sooner! I hope, however (hope dies last) that things will not be brought to a mutiny and that the “brave Ichkerians” will be pruned in advance. Why I hope - they behave too arrogantly even in relation to the "elite", and the Kremlin does not forgive this. They will always worry about themselves) Therefore, racing in the center of Moscow with shooting or foreign execution of Kadyrov's opponents can be perceived as an encroachment on the sacred))) Bust. Was Pronin removed because of Evsyukov? Rather, the reason, and the reason, is precisely the impunity of the Vainakh motor rally in the center of the capital, when the participants, having been pressed, were released. Now they start to restrict. The main thing is to be tough, otherwise they don't understand.
Russian:
I read these your men's disputes, and it became so funny. I understand that the Russians here are just joking and making fun. You see, you Circassians, Chechens, Circassians and others are small nations. I, a Russian, don't give a damn about your story, on your losses, on the alleged genocide, because we won. And if necessary, we will win again and arrange another genocide. Your peoples are simply unlucky to be in the neighborhood of Russia. While Russia is worth nothing to you. And Russia is eternal, unshakable, unshakable. Is Russia strong? War, and pestilence, And rebellion, and external storms, the pressure of her, raging, shook her - Look, everything is worth it! And around her unrest fell - And Poland's fate is decided ...
Internationalist before 1991:
The descendants of robbers and slave traders want to rob and trade in slaves again! If Russia makes concessions, it will lose not only the Caucasus, but also lose itself. Therefore, no concessions. No step back!
May 21, 1864 is also our Victory Day. We will mark it as it should be: let us remember those Russian heroes who won back these fertile places for Russia, clearing them of savages. Glory to Russia!
Russian:
Let's talk about half-witted Circassians. You raked to the fullest in the Caucasian war, do you want more? Then you were scattered a little, are you stirring up again? So, sheep, we always beat everyone who attacked the Russians, we will beat this time too. Not a problem. Do you want your last scraps to disappear? Then stir up under the leadership of "good" Jews, they will lead you where you need to go. These are such brothers. You, Circassians, live as you like, no one hurts you, you cut down the forest as much as you like, sell, enrich yourself, no one tells you anything, but this shop can easily be covered up. As soon as a little our lads get the idea that this forest and they can also sell themselves at a profit. Yes, and the meadows are nishtyak, it is good to graze cattle there. If you want to lose all this free advantage, then sing more to the Jewish tune.
“Jews don't live here? Disorder means they will live soon!”
Circassians, Russians and the Chosen People.
Anti-Semitism in the Russian Internet space is on the rise. The authors of the Russian Internet forums manage to connect with the Jews, of course in a negative context, any topic discussed: from flying to the moon to catching minnows in the rivers of Georgia. The situation in the Caucasian Internet space, including the “Adygnet”, is somewhat different. The intensity of Jewish fear among the peoples of the Caucasus is very different from the Russians (including the Russian Caucasian sub-ethnic groups - the Terek and Kuban Cossacks). Anti-Semitism is significantly noticeable only among the Chechens. Among the Circassians, anti-Israeli and generally anti-Semitic positions are occupied by Islamists. But anti-Semitism, hatred of Israel is becoming a common, unifying discourse among world Islamism, as if the hallmark of "Wahab".
Circassian:
Russian, there is no Jewish conspiracy in the Circassian issue and let's stop constantly making Jews guilty everywhere. Do you think that the Jews are artificially trying to unite the Adyghe Circassians and Kabardians into the Adyghe nation? If you think so, then you don’t understand anything about the Circassian issue ... By the way, with his publications, Avraam Shmulevich gives you Russians valuable advice not to try to hide the problem, but to solve it quickly until you Russians completely and completely lost the entire Caucasus.
Circassian:
Is it possible to announce the entire list of the Cabinet in exile? And it is not clear who is who. I'm sure half of them are Shmul's relatives!
Circassian - Circassian:
Are you an anti-Semite? This is a rare animal among the Circassians, not "endangered", but not even "born"))))))))) I have only met the third in my whole life - you))))))))
Circassian:
True, we here think that it would be more expedient to return the Crimea to Odessa, Kherson, the Volga region and Astrakhan with adjacent territories to the Jewish people. It is much more desirable for us to have the Jewish people as neighbors than you occupiers, and all the more inappropriately it will be fenced off from someone with barbed wire and Chinese walls
We already lived next door to the Khazars and our ancestors say that these were calm and very peaceful times and our peoples prospered :)
Cossack from Sochi:
It always smells bad when a representative of a third nation tries to resolve a problematic situation between two peoples. What does the Jew Shmulevich have to do with Russian-Circassian relations?
Circassian:
We, the Circassians of the Diaspora, believe that there will be no peace for the Jews in the Middle East, therefore it would be more expedient for them to move from Israel to the Crimea and form the promised land in these territories, which I brought. Moreover, there are several million of them in Odessa and Kherson and in the vicinity. If you know, when they planned to form Israel, they considered two options, and one of them was Crimea, and as I heard, the Americans were already paying Sovka a lot of money for Crimean peninsula but the Jews chose the Middle East.
Russian - Circassian:
Millions of Jews don't live in Odessa and Kherson, don't give a shit... Look at the data of the last all-Ukrainian census, how many Jews there are in Khokhland. So all the Jews go to Ethiopia, and better to Mars!
Circassian:
Don't you say Jews live in millions in Odessa and Kherson? Disorder means they will live soon!
Abkhazians against Russians? Abkhazian-Chechen-Circassian-Russian tangle.
Abkhaz: Georgians, just like Russians, they will burrow into our lands.
Abkhaz - for Chechen:
You won't surprise me with a war, we've been fighting for 15 years too, and there's no end in sight, they barely brushed aside the kickels, right now the hares are sitting on their heads. Secondly, you’re fine, you can’t speak without Russian obscenities, or what? And what nonsense are you talking about the Eastern Caucasians, who are more militant than the Western ones, you are just five times more. Compare: there are a hundred thousand Abkhazians, and you know how many Chechens. So the time will come, and we will all see who is worth it. As for not helping the Chechens during the war: you know, the Abkhazians still have complexes about this. But we had our own reasons, we ourselves fought, and there are very few of us, everything counts. We will have a future if we act in concert.
Chechen - for Abkhaz:
Your so-called war was just a gangster shootout compared to ours, in 1x, in 2x there are also only 1 million of us against the whole Russian, 143 million, besides, the weapons of the Russians are more powerful than those of the Georgians, they tried all weapons except nuclear weapons on us. Well, your Circassians are publishing against the Vainakhs here, accusing us of disloyalty to the Russians, that's what Vainakhs see, only the last schmuck could write such a thing, why should we be loyal to the Russians? or you? for genocides? or for non-repetition of these genocides? Only the last gang .. won’t have such thoughts in their heads, but you can’t call the West Caucasians militant in any way, the only thing you dare to do is fuck the Georgians by hiding behind the Russians in advance, I don’t consider it militant when I see the so-called president of Abkhazia and Kokoity, then I involuntarily recall the jackal from Mowgli, who also went north with Sher Khan
Abkhaz - Chechen:
About the presidents, if I were you and your Kadyrov, I would be silent. And I can say, and you will confirm with your messages, that the bulk of the Eastern Caucasians are impenetrable stupid.
Abkhaz - Abkhaz:
Why should I forgive all Russians and love them. No, I hate them as much as the kickels, and I wish them all the worst.
Abkhaz - Russian:
You are all cannon fodder and no one else. Then one guy told me with a laugh how he recently shot down Russian soldiers, two corpses, two cripples without legs. So our cops accepted him and immediately let go of what kind of cattle people should be imprisoned. and these wounded soldiers were lying in the hospital, ownerless for part of their own, they were already decommissioned material. Hold on! www.rg.ru/2009/04/29/reg-jugrossii/mirot vorcy-anons.html Here is the cattle. they even smoothed it out there, it doesn’t say that the kid was released, and why should the emu sit for cattle.
Avraam Shmulevich - The reaction of the Russians is very characteristic, they suddenly began to try in every possible way to shield the Abkhazians. Another interesting feature: for an Abkhaz it is natural that a rural guy drives his own Mercedes, even though this Mercedes is “not so hot”.
From my Jewish point of view, what deserves the most attention and indignation is that the killer's relatives "agreed" with the commander of the Russian soldiers, and he not only did not pursue the killer, but simply left his crippled soldiers to their fate. For Russian nationalists, this fact did not cause any reaction at all, and did not prevent them from indulging in dreams about a “normal commander” who should “find and bury”.
Russian:
That's right: the scoop is everywhere the scoop, and the nomenclature in the scoop is the nomenclature everywhere. In Abkhazia, it’s just that the locals have births, and even those who fought, armed victorious people - it’s better not to openly mess with the authorities with such people, and this is the only limiter that is basically absent in other regions of Sovka.
Russian - Abakhzu:
The issue is not national, but social. There is enough such crap on Mercs all over the country ... "real boys", masters of life. It is useless to teach them. If there was a normal commander in the unit, the only way out is to find and bury it ourselves.
Abkhaz - Russian:
Just national. If he shot down the Abkhazians, he would be literally fucked up. And so he was brought to the department, his relatives arrived, agreed with the commanders of the soldiers. And the boy was released. BUT he has merc also not so hot, and he is a country boy. Just, when you treat yourself like cattle, everyone around you treats you the same way.
From the editor."Russian Journal" publishes the second part of the conversation with the writer German Sadulaev. This time we talked with Herman Umaralievich I am talking about the problems of Chechens living inside Russia.
Russian magazine:You own the phrase "it's hard to be a Chechen." What does it mean to be a Chechen outside of Chechnya? Indeed, on the one hand, the media constantly relay information about the participation of young Chechens in hooligan conflicts or criminal offenses (from a fight in the Don camp to the murder of A. Politkovskaya), and on the other hand, many major Russian businessmen and federal politicians emphasize their Chechen origin .
German Sadulaev: First of all, by tradition, I want to note that I am not a Chechen. This is officially established and publicly declared by the highest official of the respective national-state entity. Therefore, I cannot know what it means to be a Chechen - neither in Chechnya itself, nor outside of it. Indeed, I spent most of my conscious life in the spiritually native and close city of St. Petersburg, only some atavisms and a slight accent remained of the Chechen identity in me. A book with a provocative title "I am a Chechen!" the publisher, the late Ilya Kormiltsev, and I published when the definition of “Chechen” still sounded like a sentence, and many large Russian businessmen and federal politicians carefully concealed their Chechen origin, even changing their names, surnames and passports. At that time, I called myself a Chechen and defended the honor and dignity of this people in front of stereotypical accusations of savagery, barbarism, an innate tendency to crime, and other nonsense. Now being called a "Chechen" is like a privilege, and many major Russian businessmen and federal officials have remembered their Chechen origin. I, with a calm heart, refuse this high rank. I am a person of leftist convictions, a socialist, and therefore an opponent of all and sundry privileges.
RJ:What kind of “Chechen identity” is the leadership of the Chechen Republic or the Chechen society trying to build, if one can call the adherents of Sharia so? Taking into account the unspoken taboo on interethnic marriages (in contrast to the Soviet period), the mono-ethnicity of the republic and the high level of Islamization? What will be the result of what you called modernization through archaization? Is Islamic democracy possible in Chechnya?
G.S.: Islamic democracy is, in principle, possible everywhere, including in Chechnya, but the point is that such an issue is not on the political agenda for the Chechen society. The state form, which is de facto adopted by the Chechen society, is a national-religious monarchy. Apparently, this form corresponds to the real level of socio-political development of this nation. The issue of democracy, if it is included in the agenda, will be very, very far away. Chechen society perceives any more or less democratic rulers as "weak" and reacts to democratization in the only way - by completely ignoring state power, disorganization and arbitrariness. This is a sad fact. The Chechen identity that I knew and related to was to a large extent a Soviet or Sovietized national identity. I don't understand anything about the new identity. This is precisely the result of modernization through archaism: a bizarre mixture of traditional patterns of behavior with a radical transformation of the individual and society.
RJ:In your book “Shali Raid”, you write that a young man, after graduating from a university, especially in a large city, the capital, returned to his native places and immediately received a high social status, a good job. Is this the case in modern Chechnya, what values does the Chechen society instill in its youth?
G.S.: This, of course, is not true. And not only in modern Chechnya, but throughout modern Russia. The value of education in general and higher education in particular, rapidly devalued. No diploma is no longer a guarantee of any status. We understood this back in 1991, when I was in my 2nd year at the Faculty of Law at Leningrad State University. A year ago, the future was seen as certain and secure, a year later it turned out that no diplomas matter, only papers – money – matter, and it doesn’t matter how they were received. There is monstrous unemployment in modern Chechnya. Finding a job in the specialty of a university graduate is problematic. Employment issues are decided not by the average score in the diploma, but by connections and money. Very good values are instilled in young people: patriotism, religiosity, following the laws of the state, morality, diligence, modesty. Religious and moral sermons go on for hours on local TV channels. And in mosques, and in schools, and at meetings, they teach only good things. Yes, only children, they do not listen to what adults tell them, they watch what these adults do, how the elders themselves live. And when they see all these palaces and Porsche cavalcades, when they see that bribe-takers and liars are prospering, and honest people live in poverty, they draw conclusions. A few, the most radical ones, choose the most radical - and dead-end - path to combat the surrounding hypocrisy: they become victims of another lie, go "into the forest." Most - adapt to the society that is.
RJ:What are they - young Chechens? In your interviews, you clearly distinguish between young "lawlessness" - children of authoritative parents who "lawless" (for example, driving a car to the Eternal Flame) realizing the possibilities of their parents, and ordinary Chechen children who do not have the opportunity to go to other regions. But if we recall the situation in the Don camp, in which ordinary Chechen youth took part, one gets the feeling that young Chechens, in principle, are carriers of an increased charge of aggression and fans of the "cult of power." Is it a reflection of the militant mentality or the result of the militarization of modern Chechnya?
G.S.: You know, I don't believe in a "genetic predisposition" to moral or immoral behavior. Tales about this are at best unscientific nonsense, at worst racist. Some breeds of dogs have their tails cut off generation after generation, but puppies are still born with tails. Acquired traits are not inherited - this is a postulate of science. Cesare Lombroso more than a century ago tried to prove that there is a certain type of "inborn criminal" that can be identified by anthropological features. His theory was not confirmed. Chechens, or Avars, by virtue of their "origin" are neither more nor less "aggressive", or "freedom-loving", or "moral", or, conversely, "dissolute" than Russians or Ossetians. All such external social signs are acquired in the process of education. I believe that today's Chechen youth too often behave unworthily outside the republic. And the reason for this is a bad upbringing. That is, they explain everything correctly in words to children, but they don’t reinforce moralizing with their own positive example. Young people see corruption, impunity, immorality, permissiveness of the authorities and oppression of the weak; modern facilities mass media - satellite television, the Internet - based on the cult of power and pleasure; all this enters into a systemic contradiction with the strict morality of a traditional society and gives rise to "dislocations" of consciousness, and after them - the inadequacy of behavior. I sharply criticized the Chechen society precisely for such “dislocations”. Of course, the "dislocated" consciousness reacted to my criticism according to its own logic - a large-scale campaign was launched to denigrate and discredit the modest me. What kind of lies were piled up, what kind of accusations were not invented! A specially trained android, Nukhazhiev, wrote a whole treatise "Sadulayev's hammer". It is even surprising that so much attention was paid to my insignificant person. And then there was "Manezhka", and the officials had to publicly admit that there are problems and they need to be solved. And just recently, Prime Minister Putin, at a meeting with young people in Kislovodsk, said almost the same thing that I said a year ago about the shortcomings of our behavior. But the androids are now silent for some reason. They don't mind.
RJ: How do you feel about the recent increase in attention to the "Circassian issue"? Doesn't the increased attention to the Caucasian War, the search for the guilty and the victims, while Georgia recognizes the "genocide of the Circassians" by Georgia remind of the sublimation of nationalist sentiments in Chechnya in the early 1990s?
G.S.: Oh, the Circassians have a separate long and interesting story. I am against the definition of the tsarist Russian policy in the Caucasus as "genocide of the Circassians". In general, anything can be called genocide. Wars, as a rule, were fought for destruction, war itself is a crime against humanity, and no additional labels like "genocide" are required. There is the concept of "ethnic cleansing" - it may not be related to the war. But then let's first decide on the events closest to us. In Chechnya, in 1991-94, a large-scale ethnic cleansing took place, the destruction and expulsion of the Russian-speaking population. The exodus continued after. It did not happen by itself that out of about 300,000 Russian-speakers by now, 3,000 remained in Chechnya. Minus 99%. Where are the others? The authorities say "they left". Of course, the Russians left, the Kursk submarine sank. Everything happened by itself. About 297,000 Russians lived in Chechnya and now they don't live there. For much less significant reasons, NATO announces ethnic cleansing and brings in troops. So let's figure out what it was, how, where and why 297,000 Russians "left". It was recently. This can be investigated. You can investigate the history of each family, why it "left", and how many Russians "left" from Chechnya immediately to the next world. This is what is relevant about ethnic cleansing in the Caucasus. More relevant than stirring up the affairs of past centuries, where there was little truth, little humanity, a lot of evil and violence - this is understandable. Just do not blame "Russia" for everything, and even more so the Russians.
And by the way, you probably noticed that most of the stereotypes that now the Russian consciousness (and the Chechens themselves, some, narrow-minded) attribute to the Chechen society (everyone has a couple of Russian slaves in the basement, they don’t know how to work - only to fight, etc.) e.) are completely based on reliable historical realities - only on the realities from the life of not the Chechen, but the Circassian people, and not in the 20-21, but in the 17-19 centuries. And the Chechens themselves at that time were mostly quiet downtrodden workers, plowmen, blacksmiths, cattle breeders. They bent their backs on the Circassian feudal lords on the plain. Or they suffered from poverty in the "free", but naked and poor mountains. Only gradually (and with the help of the "damned Russians") did they begin to get rid of the Circassian yoke, and - these are the quirks of history - apparently, in the form of psychological compensation for centuries of slavery and humiliation, they attributed to themselves the qualities and signs of their former enslavers, and soon they themselves believed in the fact that there were no Circassians, that they themselves have always been such proud and free robber warriors, and the Russians believed in it even faster, who generally did not distinguish Circassians from Chechens and other wild mountaineers very well.
So this sublimation of Circassian nationalism is now meaningless and useless. The great Adyghe people should engage in the cultural unification of all their branches, the preservation and development of their great national culture, and not comb historical grievances. Otherwise, you can reach the “fair” demand to return to the Circassians their fiefs and slaves from all the surrounding peoples.
The Caucasus has always been an arena of confrontation between the great powers. They tried to conquer it, to exterminate the peoples inhabiting it. The “Circassian question”, which has gone down in history, unexpectedly found its embodiment in the theme of sports. Fortunately, the theme of the Olympics, its holding in Sochi, spurred anti-Russian sentiment. Sports no longer looked so harmless in the eyes of those who harbor malice. The very holding of the Olympic Games by Circassian radicals is perceived as a challenge to their national feeling.
War is always blood. Everyone should remember this. It is obvious that on the topic of "genocide", "the Circassian issue" the politicians of the national movements are trying to find a solid ground under their feet. So far, apart from statements, processions, petitions, some Circassian leaders have not taken any active steps. This initial phase reminds me of the 1991 national movement in Chechnya. Everyone remembers how frantically local nationalists propagated the theme of the genocide of the Chechen people during the years of the Caucasian War and the deportation of 1944. These two successful trends then made it possible to muddy the minds of the people. They played on the most bleeding page of the people. Their bet was a win-win! The older generation was still alive, seeing death and the horrors of deprivation. The pain demanded recognition. And the “healers” took advantage of this: doctors, unfortunately, who were looking for benefits for themselves, and not a cure for the patient. The situation is akin to the Chechen one: a motley clique of so-called leaders plays with the fact that it can lead not to the prosperity of Circassia, but to its death, which has not taken shape.
One of the signs of the lack of unity of the Circassian national movement is that there is no single concept, no single plan of action. Incited, now by Western, now by Georgian strategists, this movement shows only one thing - an attempt to legitimize in the eyes of ordinary Circassians and present their goals as secular, democratic. At the same time, extremist exclamations are also heard from this movement. For example, "Great Circassia". I would like to ask whether the historical memory of the tragedy has so eclipsed consciousness that the authors of this project are ready, like the Chechen separatists, to go to the end? With regards to the Chechen separatists. In December last year, a video was circulated in which the well-known "mujahideen of the entire Caucasus" D. Umarov called for the disruption of the "satanic" games organized "on the bones of ancestors buried in our land." It is obvious that the dying underground armed movement needs a new stash in the form of the Circassian theme. This is what the bandit underground is trying to take advantage of. At the same time, the Circassian leaders themselves ("Adyge Khekuz - Circassia", "Right to the Motherland", "Adyge Khase-Circassian Parliament", "Khase", Circassian Research Institute "TIM", "Mound", "Patriots of Circassia" and "Circassian Union"), hastened to brush aside the newly-minted "Circassian", the Mujahideen of all times and peoples D. Umarov. So in an appeal dated January 12, 2014: “In this regard, we, representatives of Circassian national organizations, declare that we reject any criminal actions, including terrorism and extremism. We are fighting for the right to unity, preservation and development of the Circassian people exclusively within the legal field - taking into account the legislation of the countries where the Circassians live, within the framework of international law that guarantees human rights and the rights of indigenous peoples. Indeed, how did the Chechen D. Umarov get the Circassian lands ...? And who authorized him, the bandit, to make statements on behalf of the Chechen people against the Circassian? It is clear that representatives of the underground are trying to use the Circassian issue for their own purposes. Their chance is not great, but to declare themselves as defenders of religion and peoples - clean water propaganda: if the Zulus lived nearby, then a tireless fighter for “pure religion” would come out in their defense. With their statements, the bandits once again prove that they are close to what they are doing, what the Circassian leaders are doing in words and paper so far. The path is inevitably a dead end, leading to the creation of another zone of instability already in the western part of the Caucasus. An attempt to transfer armed resistance to the Circassian lands can be grounded, knowing that there are "hot heads" in an environment like the secular movement. But, this is at first glance. With all the dissociation from religiosity, there is also a national factor. Extremely religious beliefs here are replaced by national ones. At the same time, the intensity of passions is in no way inferior to religious radicalism, which has gained strength, for example, in the eastern part of the Caucasus. With a successful scenario of "orange revolutions", these two elements can, when combined, show a powerful destructive force.
Given the situation in Ukraine and the unequivocal statements of Ukrainian nationalists regarding the southern regions of Russia, the chances of destabilization in the western part of the Caucasus and spurring tensions throughout the region are growing. This is not an exaggeration, given the fact that various Western organizations, and in the recent past, sunny Georgia, the ward of the West, are making efforts to develop the Circassian issue along an extreme path. The fact that the Circassians are just a bargaining chip in political games can be seen from the Georgian "body movements". Everyone remembers that the Georgian parliament back in 2011 supported a resolution that spoke about the genocide of the Circassians in the second half of the 19th century. Georgia became the only country in the world that characterized those events as genocide. After that, the Circassian Cultural Center, Circassian television, a propaganda machine has been launched on the Internet, denouncing Russia, demanding to prevent the Olympics in Sochi and so on. The surge of interest on the part of Georgia was due to well-known events in Russian-Georgian relations. Until the last, M. Saakashvili cherished the hope of becoming a Caucasian gendarme. His anti-Russian attacks further strengthened the belief of the Circassian leaders that Georgia would not abandon them. But M. Saakashvili's plans were not lucky enough to come true: the parliamentary elections in October 2012 destroyed his plans of the Caucasian hegemon. Not only did he not become a spokesman for the aspirations of the Circassian national movement, but his own people, tired of his "tie chewing", made a choice in favor of improving relations with Russia, the country that once saved them from liquidation. The new government of Georgia in the "14 points of Ivanishvili" proclaimed that "Georgia's relations with the peoples of the North Caucasus will be based on the principles of good neighborliness, which will not be used for confrontation with Moscow." According to many experts, this thesis suggests that the new Georgia may refuse to recognize the genocide of the Circassians. Against the backdrop of more critical political failures (Abkhazia, South Ossetia) for Georgia, the topic of genocide is not relevant. The only thing that is clear is that Georgia will be ready to revoke this recognition if its northern neighbor comes close to this issue and starts a dialogue on it. Moreover, in the light of internal Georgian events, it is obvious that the Circassian movement has suffered a major loss - Georgia is no longer a reliable partner. This can be seen at least by the attenuation of the work of the propaganda machine in the same Georgia. As if on cue, the importunity of slogans subsided, there are no longer incendiary speeches.
Whoever does not need all this, in view of the fact that it can turn into major complications, is Russia itself. Having lost the Georgian rear, some Circassian leaders do not get tired of spreading that, they say, after the Olympics, Russia will take over the Caucasus. A favorite tactic of provocateurs. This is how, by and large, villages in the same Chechnya were destroyed: to fire at the federals, successfully escape, and with the people with whom they “courageously” covered themselves, come what may ... Such tactics are successful, especially in terms of propaganda. The killed civilian will be actively exaggerated and sold as news through various information channels. To hide behind, figuratively speaking, a corpse as a form information attack- a common phenomenon in the camp of the separatists.
Speaking of separatism, unfortunately, it should be noted that there is potential in the Western Caucasus. There is nothing wrong with the fact that Circassians from all over the world are returning home, in particular, from hot spots, Syria, Libya. Russia itself is helping in this to the best of its ability! But the statements of radicals among the leaders of the Circassian movement leave no doubt that they consider this repatriation as a basis for creating, not a republic of Circassians within Russia, but a separate state. Again, the theme of the Caucasian War of the 19th century should be considered a kind of ideological "springboard". The fact that any political movement based on pain, the tragedy of historical memory, is doomed to failure can be seen in the neighbors in the region - Chechen separatism. Finally dead in the minds of people and self-exposing himself. Is it worth going down this path? If the Circassian leaders are ready to sacrifice the lives of people, then let them put their relatives and friends at the beginning of this "human conveyor"! And so, to operate like a boy with soldiers, excuse me, that's what the power is to stop. Only radical national movements can escalate the situation, and only they will benefit from even an open conflict. The task of the authorities is to prevent this.
With regards to the West. The Circassian theme does not yet cause much interest in comparison with the theme of homophobia in Russia. It is known that a number of countries expressed their unwillingness to participate in the Olympics in view of the so-called discrimination against gays. But this does not mean that the issue of freedom of perverted relations has generally closed the possibility that the West may use the Circassian theme in a dialogue with Russia in the future. Focusing the attention of the West on this topic is possible if provocative exclamations materialize in actions, armed resistance. Which again plays into the hands of a morally free Europe and some Circassian leaders deprived of reason and honor. In fact, the heterogeneity of such a movement plays into the hands of those who see Russia divided and in conflicts, permanent and manageable. It is always convenient to accuse some or other leaders of pro-Russian sentiments and expel them from the camp in disgrace. The situation of political squabbling of the Ukrainian opposition is an example of this. There is nothing new behind the high-flown words of the Circassian leaders. The question is the price of confrontation, how far are the newly-minted "saviors of Great Circassia" ready to go? Sweet words about independence, breathtaking uniqueness are often fraught with, and turn into a national disaster. Another reason for the West to prick Russia for its national policy. The task of Russia, as I see it, is to involve the Circassian movements in the all-Russian political process. Do not push away those who are ready for dialogue, even the search for common ground in the camp of radicals in order to soften the camp of the irreconcilable, and the final marginalization of the ideas of separatism.
Chairman of the Circassian National social movement"Adyghe Hekuzh - Circassia" Abubekir Murzakanov: “Circassian national activists have repeatedly declared the unacceptability of holding Olympic Games on the bones of the ancestors of the Circassians, however, both Russia and global community ignored the aspirations of the indigenous people of Sochi - the Circassians. In fact, there is an infringement of the rights and freedoms of an entire ethnic group. This situation is further aggravated by the fact that 90% of Circassians still live in exile, unable to return to their historical homeland.. Reading such statements carefully, you understand that before realizing that the Circassians can and should live in united country far. Further: “In this context, it is especially strange to see the refusal of world leaders to attend the Olympics because of the infringement of the rights of sexual minorities. It is incomprehensible to us why the rights of homosexuals prevail over the rights of an entire nation that has been subjected to the most severe genocide, which is still subject to infringement of the natural rights of any ethnic group declared by international law.” Indeed, the theme of perverted joys is closer to the West than the fate of any people in general. The views of A. Murzakanov, filled with puppyish naivety, do not touch the West in any way. Wait, Mr. Murzakanov, the West will pay attention to you too! In the meantime, gays and terrorists - " sweet couple» for the West.
P. S .: According to media reports, a number of representatives of the Circassian people have been invited to the Olympics. According to Anatoly Kodzokov, head of the external relations department of the Kabardino-Balkarian State University: “In total, 26 Circassians from abroad will take part in the opening of the Winter Games. More than half have already arrived in Sochi today.” According to him, these are residents of Syria, the United Arab Emirates, Palestine, Israel, Turkey, Germany. All of them are members of the Association of foreign graduates and friends of KBSU. " During the Winter Games in the Olympic Park of Sochi, the "House of the Adyg" will be opened, also reported Kodzokov. "This is a vast pavilion in the heart of the city, where all participants and guests of the games will be able to get acquainted with the culture, traditions, historical heritage and modern life of the Circassians in Russia and abroad, - explained an employee of KBGU. - The idea of creating the "House of the Adyghe" and its implementation belongs to the administration of the Krasnodar Territory, as well as the Organizing Committee of "Sochi 2014":
Ramzan Kadyrov's initiative to abolish the post of "President" in the entire Caucasus and replace the President in a single Chechnya with an Imam, in the language of real politics, means the abolition of the secular principle of state organization.
In Chechnya, through the efforts of Ramzan and his father, an Islamic theocratic state was actually created on the basis of the Sufi order of Kadiriyya, whose hereditary sheikh was the late Akhmad Kadyrov. It is this, actually already created Islamic Chechnya, that Ramzan wants to legalize now de jure.
The initiative of the Chechen president-imam called for full and unconditional support, and official politicians and public organizations of the Caucasian republics unanimously supported his initiative. The general approval vividly recalled the "enthusiasm of the broad masses" Brezhnev era about any landmark initiative of the Party and the government. Which testifies to the fear and respect (in this context, the second is a direct consequence of the first), which the young Chechen imam was able to instill in the entire Caucasus. Moreover, not only the federal authorities and the unrequited Russian population of the regions near and far from Chechnya are afraid of him, but also other Caucasian peoples.
Nevertheless, for the first time the Chechen leader received the first and very sharp public rebuke.
He received it from Circassian public organizations. Circassians and Vainakhs are two peoples of the Caucasus approximately equal in number. Former allies in the Russian-Caucasian war, they represent, albeit close, but, nevertheless, civilizational trends that differ in some fundamental points.
It is possible that these differences can have very far-reaching consequences. for the future of the Caucasus and the entire Russian Federation, and the confrontation that has appeared today is far from the first thing that we are talking about the beginning of an open dispute about the future shape of the Caucasian Civilization.
The statement was published on the night of August 19-20 by an independent Circassian news agency Natpress under the eloquent headline: "Adyge Khase" of Adygea against the "presidential" initiative of Kadyrov on behalf of Adyge Khase of the Republic of Adygea (Adyge Khase is traditionally called the organization. Representing the Circassians. Full name: public organization revival of the national traditions of the Adyghe (Circassian) people "Adyge Khase).
In the statement, Circassian public figures spare no harsh words towards Ramzan. As far as I remember, no one has yet spoken about the national leader of Chechnya:
In the last two decades, it has become customary for us to throw in absurd political projects from the Chechen Republic, shaking our country to the ground. At the beginning it was separatist ideas inevitably transformed into a frank political and religious extremism. Today, in our opinion, we are witnessing a political project that encroaches on the very foundations of a federal structure. Russian Federation, statehood of the peoples of the Russian Federation. It is surprising with what enthusiasm in the Chechen Republic they are ready to write prescriptions for the whole country on the topic "how we can equip Russia." Meanwhile, it is time for the authorities and the public of the Chechen Republic to take up the issue of arranging the Chechen Republic, restoring civil peace, elementary law and order, fighting corruption and arbitrariness, educating the younger generation, which too often causes protests and indignation in almost all regions of the country.As opposed to the "Chechen project", the "Adyghe project" is proposed:
In this regard, the Republic of Adygea could serve as an example to follow. In the early 1990s, the Adygei Autonomous Region seceded from the Krasnodar Territory and became an independent subject of the Russian Federation. The Adyghe Autonomous Region was transformed into a republic within the Russian Federation, a constitution was adopted, and authorities were elected. Over the past two decades, three presidents have changed in the republic, and the parliament of the republic has been repeatedly re-elected. Not a single stage of our newest political history is not associated with a misunderstanding, let alone a confrontation with the federal center and neighboring regions. Civil peace and interethnic harmony are preserved in the republic, which is the basis of trust and respect for our multinational people Russian society. At the same time, freedom of speech, meetings, rallies, processions and demonstrations, the right to participate in government, political struggle are the norm of public life in the Republic of Adygea.Local authorities are also sharply criticized - moreover, for concessions to Ramzan:
The implementation of such a model of public life by the authorities and societies in many other regions would remove many troubles and sufferings of our fellow citizens from our country, would create a different quality of life in the country. Such absurd political projects would not have appeared on the agenda of public life. …
Meanwhile, traditions of open, democratic discussion of problems significant for society have been developed in our republic. For us, the model of behavior of the authorities, characteristic of neighboring regions, when problems significant for society are solved without public discussion, in the silence of the office behind the backs of the peoples, whose interests they are obliged to defend, is unacceptable for us.
Dear Aslan Kitovich! Our people entrusted you to carry the Adyghe (Circassian) flag. Under this banner, our people went through great trials. He was carried high before you, and will be carried after. If you don't have internal forces to carry high the Adyghe (Circassian) flag is much more honest to lay down the powers of the president of the republic than to become the last president of the Republic of Adygea.Ramzan Akhmatovich Kadyrov FOR THE FIRST TIME received a frontal rebuff. Moreover, this was done not by the Kremlin, not by the central government, but by an independent movement of one of the Caucasian peoples.
Of particular surprise and concern is the hasty and ill-considered support of this initiative by the President of the Republic of Adygea A.K. Tkhakushinov. In this regard, I would like to remind the President of the Republic of Adygea that the Parliament of Adygea elected by the people of the Republic, nominating him as a candidate for the post of President of the Republic of Adygea, and later, approving him in this position on behalf of the entire multinational people of Adygea, did him a great honor.
Assuming the office of President of the Republic of Adygea, A. K. Tkhakushinov took an oath, the text of which reads: “I solemnly swear to the multinational people of Adygea, in the performance of the duties of the President of the Republic of Adygea, to strictly follow the Constitution of the Russian Federation, the Constitution of the Republic of Adygea, federal laws and the laws of the Republic of Adygea, respect and protect the rights of man and citizen, conscientiously fulfill the duties assigned to me by the people.
War declared?
Move for Ramzan and the Kremlin.
The article "Chechens" (translated by B. Schilotti) is a translation from the German language of an article by M. Wagner, a traveler in the Caucasus. M. Wagner was frightened by stories about Chechens, and this fear of Chechens left its unpleasant imprint on his article. He imagined in the eyes of the Chechens "infidelity and the desire for murder", he "would not follow the invitation of the Chechens to the village." Despite all this, "Chechens" represent history. Value, especially since there has been almost no literature on Chechnya so far. "Chechens", written almost 80 years ago, is interesting for the modern reader, although there are some incorrect provisions and erroneous conclusions in the article, which are quite obvious to Soviet man. And just because it is interesting to read an article about Chechnya and the Chechens of a foreign contemporary of the Caucasian war, this article is placed in the proposed collection. "Chechens" are placed in the German collection "The Caucasus and the land of the Cossacks from 1843 to 1846", Leipzig, 1848
How the Circassians in the Western Caucasus constitute the main core of Russian enemies, around whom they are grouped different genera other small nationalities - Abkhazians, Abikhs, Chigets, Elbrus Tatars (Karachays) and Kabardians, so among the mountainous peoples of the Eastern Caucasus, the Chechens are at the head of the northern conquerors resisting the invasion. The name "Chechens" refers, in fact, to one small clan of this people, which, however, stood out so much for its courage and energy that the Russians designate by this name all the peoples who speak the same dialect, of which, including the Kistins and the Ingush, there are up to 150 thousand shower. Circassians, Tatars and Lezgins call this people "Mizchegi" (p. 187). The extremely harsh dialect of the Chechens has nothing to do with the language of the Circassians, Lezgins, Tatars or Ossetians, although some words from different mountain dialects have also passed into the Chechen language. Klaproth reveals this language, due to its structure, as completely independent, but at the same time says that the Chechens took a lot of words from their neighbors - the Avars. Regarding the origin of the Chechens, there is still the deepest darkness. They are considered ancient inhabitants the Caucasian peninsula, which preserved the primitive customs and the warlike spirit of the ancients, and even now, as in the time of Aeschylus, they are "wild crowds, terrible in the noise of their rattling swords." The Chechens gave a brilliant refutation to the German scientist, who in his book "Russia and the Circassians" very little appreciated the strength of the resistance of the mountain peoples to the Russian sword and scepter. Our famous and insightful geographer Ritter turned out to be more right when he said: "The wars of Timur, Peter the Great and Nadir Shah against the peoples of the Eastern Caucasus showed that the regions of Dagestan and Lezgistan belong to the world's isolated fortresses, which enable their inhabitants and defenders to resist the most famous conquerors. Chechens inhabit a beautiful mountain country between the high Caucasian Alpine chain and the Terek; in the east, their area is limited by Koisu, and in the west by a pass leading from Vladikavkaz to Transcaucasia. This mountain area is rich in beautiful forests and meadows, but agriculture in the high valleys of Chechnya yields only small crops; but still, the ripening time of the bread is the most important for mountain dwellers, who then usually keep quiet until the bread is put away in a safe place. When late autumn sheaves from the fields disappeared and fast waters Terek and Sunzha fell, then everyone in the Cossack line knows that the militant cry of the Chechens will not be long in coming. All points lying in the Terek valley from Vladikavkaz to Vnepnaya are being attacked by the Chechens. Vladikavkaz, Groznaya, Gizel-Aul and Temir-Khan-Shura are at present the main operational points of the Russians against the Chechens. In these fortresses you can meet daily a large number of these slender savages. Like the Circassians, they visit Russian fortresses for the most part to pass the time, and the Russians, who expect good results from these lively relations with their enemies, allow them to freely visit their fortified places. In Vladikavkaz - a large and important point on the Terek - I saw for the first time a large number of Chechens and, because. I just came from the Kuban, where I saw the Circassians, then naturally, I compared the external impression and appearance that both these peoples brought to me. They play the same role in the Caucasus, but differ in language and origin, and until recently had no contact with each other. “Chechens,” I wrote in my diary in Vladikavkaz, “I like less Circassians, with whom they have a common slenderness, bold restraint and an aquiline nose, but not a common facial expression. Free, open, inquisitive and a little wild expression, their behavior is so chivalrous that it is impossible to treat them without sympathy.In the more darkly colored face of the Chechen, there is, along with an expression of great energy, some kind of gloomy, unpleasant feature: I saw people here in whose eyes glittered infidelity and the desire to kill which frightened me. I would trustfully accept the hospitality of the Circassian bridle, I would not follow the invitation of the Chechen to the village. The face of the Chechens is a little longer and thinner than the face of the Circassians, and their beard is less abundant than that of other eastern peoples, for example, the Turks and Arabs.The clothing seems to be the same among most Caucasian peoples: tight brown trousers and a brown coat with a leather belt and multi-colored , sewn on both sides of the chest, with pieces of cloth for storing cartridges. The head is adorned with a Caucasian turban - a large hat with a multi-colored top and a wide band made of disheveled sheepskin, which, falling on the forehead, further increases the wild and stern look of the mountain dwellers. All wear a long dagger at their waist and a long gun tucked tightly against their backs. Some young people are more richly dressed: they wear coats woven with silver, and magnificent daggers and sabers with silver handles. The review of the troops, which was carried out in Vladikavkaz by General Baldinin, the Chechens, Kabardians and Ossetians watched with great interest, just as I examined the artistic figures of the Caucasians. "I cited this passage from my notebook unchanged, but I agree that the stories I heard earlier Russian military about the actions and features of the Circassians and Chechens, perhaps, did not remain without influence on this comparative assessment of the two peoples. Russian reviews are more favorable for the inhabitants of the Western Caucasus than for the inhabitants of the eastern mountainous belt. Loyalty to this word is less common among them, severity with prisoners of war is greater and, in addition, they are inspired by such religious fanaticism, which the Circassian does not know. The last feature especially distinguishes the western Caucasian from the eastern highlander. If the Circassians recently think a little more about the Koran, then this is more in order to increase hatred and dislike for Russian Christians, rather than from internal spiritual motives ... ... While the Circassians have an innate love for freedom and independence and, at the same time, some hope of robbery and booty, constitute the main reason for their resistance to Russia, among the Chechens, hatred of Russian domination is motivated more by their ardent religious fanaticism. All the prominent leaders of the Chechens, from Sheikh Mansur, who knew 20,000 religious verses by heart, to the current leader of the Chechens, Shamil, who plays the role of a prophet, felt the need to base their secular power on religious fanaticism, just as the marabout Abd-El-Kader did in Algeria . This religious fanaticism in the Eastern Caucasus facilitates the unification of peoples of different languages under one leadership and makes it difficult for numerous Russian troops to wage war, a war that, thanks to the heroic courage of the inhabitants and natural conditions countries - " world fortress nationalities," will not end soon. During my stay on the banks of the Terek and in the high mountains of the Caucasus, I received a lot of interesting information about the life and customs of the Chechens. close proximity to Shamil, whom he served as a slave.He could not bear life in the mountains - the harsh climate, poor nutrition, - and took advantage of the opportunity to run under the banner of the double-headed eagle, no matter how little sympathy, like a Pole, he felt for them. Although, according to his assurances, he was taken prisoner during the expedition of General Grabbe, he risked a punishment of 3,000 rods - an ordinary punishment for all Russian deserters in the Caucasus - a punishment equivalent to martyrdom if one of the more humane officers failed to somehow mitigate the punishment. Only with great difficulty did the poor Pole manage to avoid a terrible death, which, according to Russian officers, often befell the innocent. According to the stories of this Pole and other surviving and exchanged prisoners, the descriptions of housing, customs and occupations of the Circassians, given by me above, can be almost completely attributed to the Chechens. But this coincidence does not yet give the right to conclude about kinship, because the way of life and occupation of primitive peoples depends on the nature and climate of their country, and these coincide completely in these two countries. The position of a woman among Chechens and Circassians is almost the same, but among the former there is no sale of women to foreign countries. Trustworthy faces told me that Chechen women they treat the foreigner favorably and they show much pity for the prisoners, as far as the jealousy and distrust of their husbands allows. Not one Russian prisoner escaped from captivity thanks to the Chechens, and together with their liberators they came to the Russian camp. After everything I learned about the Caucasian woman, I can say that in addition to the warlike spirit of the Amazon, a spark of tenderness and femininity lives in them. Returning victors are greeted with joyful cries and hugs by women and girls, the wounded are cared for with disinterested devotion, and even a poor prisoner of war, thanks to the kind-hearted attitude of a woman, finds solace in his unfortunate fate. The poet Pushkin in his "Prisoner of the Caucasus" correctly captured this character of the Chechen girl, who, like the voice of a "good genius," sounds over the stream and warns the Cossack girls. It is very difficult for a traveler, even if he has collected a lot of facts and listened to many opinions, to speak out about the fate of a people if he does not study it during many years of staying among them. The Russian military is also not capable of right judgment, because their observations are not updated by constant new observations, and their hatred of the people, who defend their freedom so selflessly and desperately, is well known. On the other hand, foreigners, seized with hatred for Russia and the admiration of all of Europe for the courage and militancy of Russian enemies in the Caucasus, are even less capable of correct judgment ... The Chechens are a brave barbarian people, but they deserve even less than the Circassians, that exaggerated admiration, with which they are treated in some European countries. Fanaticism, infidelity, severity are not traits cultured people. Another question: is it possible that admiration for the people personally is sympathy for their cause? One can resolutely reject the savagery of some people, but still one must ask: "But what right do others have with fire and sword to subdue this free people?" Whoever knows the fate of the Armenians in Turkey or the Doukhobors in Russia needs no other motives to explain Sheikh Mansour's statement to the Englishman Bell: "If England and Turkey leave us, if all other means of resistance are exhausted, then we will burn our houses and property, our we will suffocate our wives and children, and, retreating to our rocks, we will die to the last man" (p. 193)
(In the book: “ABOUT THOSE WHO WERE CALLED ABREKS”. Collection of stories, novels, legends, fairy tales, poems and socio-economic essays about Chechnya and Chechens. Grozny, 1927)