On April 7–8, 1995, during the first Russian-Chechen war, Russian troops, carrying out a cleansing operation in the village of Samashki, Achkhoy-Martan region, killed, according to various estimates, at least one hundred civilians. This figure was indicated in a report by the UN Commission on Human Rights. The International Committee of the Red Cross announced the death of 250 civilians.

Memorial provides its own estimate of the number of dead residents, based on the list of victims by name - at least 112-114 people. Memorial co-chairman Oleg Orlov, who was recently convicted of discrediting the RF Armed Forces, worked in Chechnya during that period.

29 years ago in April, the military command of the Russian Federation presented an ultimatum to the residents of Samashki, demanding to hand over a large number of weapons that they did not have. Even before the expiration of the ultimatum, shelling of the village began, as a result of which several people were killed.

After this, a “cleansing operation” began with executions and grenades thrown at residential buildings. The report describing the punitive operation against the Chechen village received wide resonance both in Russia and abroad.