- Abrek
Abrek is a North Caucasian term. It originates from "abræg", the Ossetian for "a robber". Once it was used for a person who vowed to avoid any pleasures and to be fearless in fight. A vow could last for five years. During that period an abrek renounced himself from any contact with friend and relatives.
Later it was spread to the anti-Russian guerillas at the post-war North Caucasus, as well as for all illegals. Those abreks were widely popularized as the defenders of the motherland and paupers. Abrek lifestyle also included a lonely life in the unexplored wilderness. Becoming aged, abreks of the West Caucasus usually devote themselves to beekeeping.
After the establishment of the Soviet power, anti-Soviet abreks appeared, for the most part in
Chechnya . The Chechen abreks unleashed the rebellions of 1920-21, 1929-31 and the last in 1941-43, that led to thedeportation . The last anti-Soviet abrek was killed28 March 1976 at the age of 70. [ru icon [http://www.chechen.org/content.php?catID=7&content=335 Khasukha Magomadov bio] ]ee also
*
Zelimkhan Gushmazukayev - the most prominent Chechen abrek
*Khasukha Magomadov - the last Chechen abrekReferences
* [http://www.caucasology.com/XIV-XV/Rebeca.pdf Rebecca Gould: The Abrek in Chechen Folklore]
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