Without publication in the press
№ 139/19
Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR
On the removal of restrictions on the special settlements from Chechens, Ingushs, Karachays and their families who were evicted during the Great Patriotic War.
Given that the existing restrictions on the legal status of being in special settlements Chechens, Ingushs, Karachays and their families who were evicted during the Great Patriotic War from the North Caucasus, are not needed in the future, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR decrees:
1. Deregister at special settlements and release from under the administrative supervision of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR the Chechens, Ingushs, Karachays and their families who were evicted to special settlement during the Great Patriotic War.
2. Establish that the removal of the special settlement restrictions from the persons listed in the article first of the present Order, does not entail the return of property confiscated during the eviction, and that they have no right to return to places where they had been evicted from.
Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR K. Voroshilov
Secretary of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR N. Pegov
The Kremlin, Moscow
July 16, 1956
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Reference
On the situation of the Chechen and Ingush population
In February 1944, more than 496 000 Chechens and Ingushs were evicted from the Chechen-Ingush Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, including 411 thousand people (85 000 families) – in the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic, and 85.5 thousand people (20 000 families) in the Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic. Currently 315,000 Chechens and Ingushs live in Kazakhstan and about 80 thousand people in Kyrgyzstan.
The main mass of the Chechen-Ingush population is employed and regard the work honestly. Of the 244 thousand people, 155 000 adults are working, or 63.5 percent. 38.3 thousand are employed in the industry, 91.6 thousand in agriculture, 25 thousand people in various organizations and institutions.
The acquaintance at place revealed that the majority of Chechens and Ingushs live not worse than in the North Caucasus, have their own houses, cows and poultry. However, in interviews, many Chechens and Ingushs complained that they were not allowed to return to their former places of residence and urged to allow them the exit to the North Caucasus. After the de-registration of the special settlements, more than 6 000 people of them returned to the territory of the former autonomous republic.
The former Chechen-Ingush Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic had 23 rural districts. After the abolition of the republic, 11 districts went to Grozny region, 6 districts – to the Dagestan ASSR, 5 districts – to the North Ossetian Autonomous Republic and one district – to the Georgian SSR. According to the 1939 census, 731.7 thousand people inhabited in those areas. Currently, there are 512.2 thousand people, including 180 000 displaced.
On the possible return of Chechens and Ingushs to their former places of residence of Grozny, Dagestan and North Ossetia oblast committees are negative, justifying it by the fact that economic opportunity of the areas of the former Chechen-Ingush Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic does not allow them to employ and to settle. Undesirability of the return of Chechens and Ingushs also is justified by the Party and Soviet workers by the fact that some of them proven wrong in the past and now.
E. Gromov, V. Churaev
November 14, 1956
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From a letter of the Secretary of the Organizing Committee of the Chechen-Ingush Autonomous Republic Komarov addressed to the Secretary of the Chechen-Ingush regional committee of the CPSU G.F. Cherkevich
September 25, 1957
In the spring of 1957, 140 thousand of Chechens and Ingushs returned to the republic, the part of nationals of Dagestan and Ossetia moved into their republics.
CHGNA. F.1. Op.1. D.1837. L.4-5