Memorial Evening at Caucasus International University Honoring the Victims of the Vainakh Deportation

On February 23, Caucasus International University, in partnership with the Women’s Federation “Congress of Caucasian Women,” hosted a memorial evening dedicated to one of the most tragic chapters in the history of the Caucasus — the mass deportation of the Vainakh people in 1944.

The event, commemorating the 82nd anniversary of the deportation of the Chechen and Ingush peoples, was opened by Ekaterine Chalaghanidze, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. Additionally, Giorgi Pareshishvili, Advisor to Rector, addressed the audience, highlighting the significance of such initiatives in advancing historical justice and strengthening solidarity among neighboring nations.

The evening was moderated by Meka Khangoshvili, Doctor of Philology, who provided a comprehensive overview of the tragic events that unfolded between February 23 and March 9, 1944. Participants were reminded that, within a span of just two weeks, the Soviet regime forcibly displaced an estimated 500,000 to 650,000 people from their ancestral homeland. In total, 180 train convoys carrying deported Vainakh families were dispatched to Central Asia.

During the event emphasis was placed on the works of Georgian writers and poets that reflect the tragedy of the Vainakh people. The audience was addressed by poet Erekle Saghliani, as well as professors Tsira Baramidze and Niko Javakhishvili. Other speakers discussed historical facts and higlighted the importance of raising awareness about these events among younger generations.

One of the most emotional parts of the memorial evening was the screening of Khusein Erkenov’s film “Ordered to Be Forgotten”. The film depicts the tragedy of Khaibakh, one of the most brutal episodes associated with the Vainakh deportations.
It is also noteworthy that in 2004, the European Parliament officially recognized the deportation of the Chechen and Ingush peoples as an act of genocide.