Blood feud becomes exceptional phenomenon in North Ossetia

In North Ossetia, blood feud killings are single cases; practically all conflicts are regulated within the legal field, the experts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" believe.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on February 9, the military court in Nalchik found Vyacheslav Khadziev, a military serviceman from North Ossetia, guilty of killing Timur Valiev. The court decided that Khadziev had committed the murder in the affective state, and imposed a non-custodial sentence on him.

At night on March 23, 2021, a conflict broke out in one of the restaurants in North Ossetia, during which Alan Khadziev, a mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, a world champion was fatally stabbed. Timur Valiev, who wounded Khadziev, was also wounded and died, Khadziev's brother confessed to murdering him, when he came to the police and surrendered. On April 5, 2021, it became known that the "Styr Nykhas" Ossetians' Council had reconciled the families of Khadziev and Valiev, who became blood feudists after the restaurant incident.

In North Ossetia, the blood feud has not been practiced for a long time, Kazbek Enaldiev, a deputy chair of the "Styr Nykhas" Ossetians' Council, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. "They (cases of blood feud) are practically few; this was the only case – just a stupid absurdity," he said.

Zaur Farniev, a journalist and a blogger from North Ossetia, has confirmed that the blood feud tradition has not been supported for a long time in North Ossetia. "The institute of blood feud in North Ossetia has not been functioning for a long time, only the name remains of it. Maybe there are only single cases, once every 10-15 years, when someone avenges the death of his relative," said Mr Farniev. It is remarkable that the "Styr Nykhas" is engaged in reconciliation of blood feudists, because by doing this they not only keep traditions, they settle interethnic disputes.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on February 14, 2022 at 11:59 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.