Historians stage equestrian ride in honour of Shamil amid disputes with Kadyrov

A horseback ride across Dagestan, organized by historians, is a reconstruction of Imam Shamil's way, not related to the resonant words of Ramzan Kadyrov about Shamil, scientists have pointed out. The tradition of equestrian rides is not peculiar for Dagestanis, the historians have emphasized.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that residents and theologians of Dagestan had protested against Kadyrov's statement, who on August 7 accused Imam Shamil of repressions against Chechens for their unwillingness to confront the Russian Empire. Later, Kadyrov stated that he respected Shamil and Dagestanis.

"The Dagestani Historical-Geographical Society continues preparing the memorial horseback trip "Shamil's Way", which should repeat the route of Imam Shamil's last trip to exile abroad, and is dedicated to the 160th anniversary of the end of the Great Caucasus War in Eastern Caucasus," Zurab Gadjiev, a Dagestani historian, wrote in his Facebook.

The tradition of equestrian rides appeared "relatively recently," said Khadjimurad Donogo, a historian. According to his story, with the help of such rides, people try to support the memory of historical events or personalities.

The emergence of such events is a consequence of the special attitude of Caucasian nations to their history, Vladimir Bobrovnikov, an Orientalist, believes.

The image of a horseman occupies a central place in the culture of the Circassians, residents of the Western Caucasus, Timur Aloev, a historian, has pointed out, suggesting that Chechnya and Dagestan had borrowed the custom of equestrian rides from their western neighbours.