The origins of memory at the «Tree of Life»

Mourning events dedicated to the 159th anniversary of the end of the Caucasian War are being held in Kabardino-Balkaria. Representatives of state authorities, the public, clergy, organizations and departments of the republic and residents of the capital of the republic laid flowers at the Tree of Life monument in Nalchik. On the Day of Remembrance of the circassians — victims of the Caucasian War (1817-1864), which is celebrated annually in the republic on May 21, flowers were laid at the «Tree of Life» monument by the head of the KBR Kazbek Kokov, the chairman of the KBR parliament Tatyana Egorova, the prime minister of the republic Alii Musukov, representatives of public , religious associations, residents of the republic and guests of the region. On behalf of the university, the commemorative mission was performed by acting. Rector of KBSU Yuri Altudov and chairman of the trade union of the university Igor Kobozev.

Exactly at noon, as in all other regions of the country and the world, where the mournful date is remembered on May 21, a minute of silence was announced, and representatives of the spiritual administration of muslims performed a memorial ceremony.

“Once again, at this holy place, today we honor the memory of those who, as a result of the Caucasian War, lost, if not their lives, then their Motherland. We bow our heads to those who fought on the battlefields of this most bloody and longest war in history, <…> and may this never happen again, with any people living on this land, ” — said the President of the International Circassian Association Hauti Sohrokov, addressing those gathered near the «Tree of Life» monument.

Being a product of complex, contradictory processes of the era of geopolitical confrontation between the leading states of the 19th century, the Caucasian War led to great losses among the Adyghes, many were forced to leave their historical homeland, Kazbek Kokov noted in his address to the inhabitants of the republic. “The hardest trials of that tragic period did not break our ancestors. Thanks to their fortitude, courage, wisdom and far-sightedness, they managed to survive, turn the terrible page of history, remain true to the fateful choice made once, which played a crucial role for the future of the Adyghe ethnos. Thanks to this continuity, the Circassians retained their dignity, continued to live and create in their native land, preserved their language, culture, original traditions and customs, and today they are building their future in a single multinational family of the peoples of our great country,” — the message says.