Address of the Tatar Council to the Balkar People on the 82nd Anniversary of the Deportation

Dear brothers and sisters, sons and daughters of the brotherly Balkar people,

Today, on March 8, during these holy days of Ramadan, we join you in prayer and honor the memory of innocent victims of the terrible and tragic events of the 20th century. Exactly 82 years ago, in 1944, your people were subjected to a total and cruel deportation from their homeland.

The operation called “Lentil” (or “North Caucasus-455”), carried out in just a few hours, will always remain in history as a terrible injustice and a crime of the Stalin regime. There were 14 trains, each with 56 wagons, filled with people who were woken up at night and given only two hours to prepare. Everyone was deported: elderly people, women, and children.

What makes it even more painful is the cruelty of those responsible. On the same day when thousands of Balkar families were freezing in cargo trains going into the unknown, the organizers of this action received state awards. This is a deep wound that has stayed in the hearts of the people for decades.

We admire the courage and strength of the Balkar people, who managed to keep their proud spirit and belief in justice through the years. Even though Balkars live in the North Caucasus, we are very close. Our languages are almost the same, our cultures are similar, we share the same faith, and we come from the same roots.

We are with you, dear Balkar people. Your pain is our shared pain, and your strength is our shared pride.

We wish justice and peace to our peoples.

Our strength is in unity!

08.03.2026