Meredzhi (village)

Meredzhi is a non-residential rural locality (a selo) in Galanchozhsky District of the Republic of Chechnya, Russia (Until September 26, 2018, it was in the Sunzhensky District of Ingushetia).

Background
The village consists of three smaller settlements—Dak-Bukh, Dalt-Bukh and Churk-Bukh. It's predominantly made up of wooden buildings due to its geographical location—the needed wood is available at nearby forests. Meredzhi was one of the centre villages of Meredzhi Society. The Chechen-Ingush clan (teip) of Merzhoy originated from it. Due to good climate and hydrogeological conditions, the population of the village was primarily engaged in arable farming and cattle breeding but also gardening.

In the second half of the 18th century (1770s), the German researcher J. A. Güldenstädt indicated the village of Meredzhi among the total number of ingush (Kist) villages which he opposes them with the Chechens. Meredzhi was mentioned as an Ingush village in 1823 by S. M. Bronevskiy.

In 1858, Naib of Little Chechnya Said-Dulla by order of Nikolay Yevdokimov made punitive raids on Shagot-Kokh, Dattykh, Azerze, Meredzhi and other villages, where many abreks were hiding. In maps of 1850s Meredzhi is shown in ruins.

Russian rule
In 1862, the Ingush okrug was established as part of the Western Department of Terek Oblast. The village of Meredzhi was part of the Gorsky uchastok of the Ingush okrug. In 1866 the Meredzhi was ceded to the Argun okrug due to them belonging to the same nation as the locals (Chechen) and geographically closer to the central governance of the okrug.

Soviet rule
During the deportation of the Chechens and Ingush, the village's population was deported to Central Asia and became uninhabited. Only tourists wandered in the village. With the abolishment of Checheno-Ingush ASSR, Meredzhi became part of Pervomaysky raion of the Grozny Oblast and was subordinated to the village of Pervomaysky (modern day Galashki). With the restoration of Chechen-Ingush autonomy, Meredzhi was included in the Sunzhensky raion of Checheno-Ingush ASSR.

Modern
During the Insurgency in the North Caucasus, Chechen militants set up their camp near Meredzhi. On March 28 2011, Russian Air Forces carried out airstrikes using a drone on the camp, killing 16 of the militants including a prominent commander—Supyan Abdullayev during the operation. Although originally assumed that Doku Umarov was among the militants dead, this was disproven as his supposed body wasn't found. Having taken medical supplies, He left the camp few hours before the operation took place.

With the connection to the start of the summer tourist season, the Committee of the Republic of Ingushetia for Tourism, together with local authorities of the Sunzhensky District, organized tourist trips to Meredzhi on 12 May 2018.

Demographics
National censuses done by the Russian empire and the Soviet Union in 1874, 1883, 1891, 1914 and 1926 showed that all of the inhabitants of Meredzhi and its surrounding villages were ethnic Chechens in all 5 censuses.

Geography
Meredzhi is located on the right bank of the Fortanga river, on the Meredzhi river, at the foot of the Kyurelam mountain range. The nearest settlements: in the northwest (downstream of Fortanga) — the village of Dattykh, in the northeast (upstream of Fortanga) — the village of Gandalbos, in the west – the village of Tsecha-Akhki, in the east – the village of Khaykharoy.

Gallery