16/11/2023
Tribute to Khaso Khangoshvili (1942 to 2023)
Dear Friends,
We are deeply saddened to hear the news of Khaso Khangoshili’s passing on 15th November 2023 and respectfully join his family, the Kist/Chechen community in Pankisi Valley and Chechnya, and countless friends across the world to express our heartfelt condolences. Khaso was 81 years old and had been in poor health.
Khaso was much loved and respected by young and old in the local Pankisi community, Chechnya and Georgia. He was a devout Muslim imbued with a deep commitment to serving his family and Kist community. His personality was gentle yet authoritative, caring and courageous, humble yet proud.
Khaso belonged to the old Chechen traditions however his thinking and approach was modern in terms of his understanding and responses to the changes and challenges of modernity. He was regarded by the Pankisi community as a leading representative, advocate and champion of the Kists in Georgia, who voiced his concerns and aspirations to the common person, the media, and government officials with conviction.
Khaso was interviewed a few years ago for ‘The Kists of Pankisi Valley’ exhibition in which we learn about his history and involvements:
“Khaso became a teacher and long-term member of the Council of Elders in Pankisi. He initially studied at the technical school in Grozny, Chechyna. Khaso graduated from the Telavi pedagogical institute in 1967. He was asked to stay at the Institute in Telavi but “I got married and I had to take care of my parents”, says Khaso.
He did not think about teaching career. He remembers how he changed his mind: “I did not want to be a teacher. Once they asked a famous Kist elder Usup Margoshvili at one of the meetings - which occupation is the most important? “Teacher”, he answered. When such respected aksakal (a great person) said such words I decided to teach up to the end of my life”. He taught for 28 years in the Dumasturi School and many Kists, Ossetians, Georgians and Tushetians passed through his classes. He left the school after more than quarter of the century. “I felt that young people liked younger teachers more and I felt that I should leave the place for youngsters”.
His further career started at the end of the Soviet Union in the difficult 1990s. As an authoritative person he became involved in the politics at the time of civil war in Georgia. Disgusted with high politics he became more involved in the local Mekhk-Kel (Council of Elders), the traditional institution which solves local disputes using local law (adat) and which survived through the Soviet period. As the reputation of Kists became more negative in Georgian society he started to write about Kists producing an important book called “Kists”, which puts the history of the Kist people into broader regional context. “But I found it was necessary to continue”, he continues. He is the author of 5 books: “Kists”, “Abreks”, “The Holy Book”, “Kists’ Traditions and Customs, and “The Memories of the Hunter”.
“It is important that our law has been written and even updated to correspond with modern times. Now, everybody can read our laws and behave according to them.”
Khaso was a devoted and loving father to Gebish, Meka, Tumi and Madina, and his grandchildren.
Khaso’s funeral takes place today in Duisi.
