Aukh (Chechen: Ӏовх, Ӏавх,^[2] 'Ovkh, Ӏовхойн мохк;^[2] Russian: Ау́х) is a historical region in the current republic of Dagestan, populated by Chechens. Aukh encompasses parts of the Novolak, Khasavyurtovsky Babayurtovsky and Kazbekovsky districts.^[3] The Chechens of Dagestan call themselves Aukhs (ӏовхой), and speak a dialect of the Aukh dialect.^[4]

The territories where the Nakh clans settled were inhabited in ancient times by the Vainakh tribe "Авхар". Therefore, the modern teipes were not the first Chechens to master these lands.^[5]

Aukh has historically been inhabited by Chechen tribes and were mentioned by several sources of the time as Okoki, Gueni, and others. Aukh was given to Dagestan late 1890's. Aukh was very mixed with a lot of different Chechen and Ingush teips from all areas of Chechnya and Ingushetia,^[6] due to this the tribes living there had several different names in Russian sources.

With the permission of the authorities of the Soviet Dagestan, on October 5, 1943, the Aukhs formed their national Aukhs district (the territory of the modern Novolaksky and part of the Kazbekovsky regions) with the center in Yaryksu-Aukh (modern Novokuli). But at the end of February 1944, the Aukhs, sharing a similar fate with other Vainakhs, were ethnically cleansed from their homeland. The authorities disbanded the Aukh district, giving the land of Aukhs to other ethnic groups of Dagestan.^[13]

In the period from 1957 to 1960, the majority of Aukhs returned to the Soviet Dagestan, however, the leadership of the republic forbade them to resettle the land of their ancestors, especially in the Novolaksky and Kazbekovsky districts (only a few successfully repatriated). Due to restrictions, Aukhs began to settle in other settlements of the republic, which the authorities indicated to them (legislatively, this ban was enacted by a resolution of the Council of Ministers of the DASSR on July 16, 1958). Until 1961, Aukhs fought for their return to their native places of residence after which under the threat of a new ethnic cleansing, they had to temporarily abandon their claims.^[13]

Aukhs never abandoned attempts to return their former dwellings occupied by Avars and Laks. The resulting interethnic tension led to clashes, sometimes with tragic consequences. In 1964, Aukhs made another attempt to return to their native homeland, acting in an organized manner and emphasizing the peaceful nature of their action. The leadership of the Soviet Dagestan was confused and declared these actions “riots”, although no repressive measures were taken against the participants in the events then. Once again, Aukhs tried to return to their homes in 1976 and 1985 in the village of Chapaevo (Chech. Keshen-Evla), and in 1989 in many native Aukh villages. In response to these actions, the local party leadership began to turn the Avars and Laks against the Aukhs. On July 3, 1989, a rally was organized demanding the renewed cleansing of Aukhs from Dagestan.^[14]

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