Putin claims to preserve memory of 1999 events in Russia’s Botlikh

Makhachkala, September 13, 2019. Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in the Russian Republic of Dagestan on Thursday to commemorate the 20th anniversary of repelling the invasion of terrorists in the republic.

The Russian leader arrived in the airport of Makhachkala and traveled to the village of Botlikh, where he talked with the local population and laid flowers at the memorial dedicated to the servicemen and members of popular militia who fought off the violent invasion of terrorists from Chechnya in the republic in 1999.

According to the president, the community of Botlikh is celebrating a tragic but glorious anniversary of the militia’s combat operation 20 years ago. Putin recalled that back then the Dagestanis stood against international terrorist groups together with the Russian Armed Forces and "not only defended their home region, their Dagestan, their community but also, most importantly, showed the whole country what it means for people to unite in the face of a common danger."

On August 7, 1999, several groups of Chechan terrorists, led by Shamil Basayev, invaded Dagestan with a proclaimed aim "to free" Muslims. The fierce fighting claimed the lives of over 280 people, including military and security servicemen, as well as civilians. More than 800 others were injured.

After the attack was repelled, Putin, who was Russia's acting prime minster at the time, arrived in late August in Botlikh to meet with military commanders and popular militia members to thank them for their bravery.
In Botlikh, the president urged to respect and preserve the memory of the 1999 events in Dagestan.