Verkhatoy (Russian: Верхатой, Chechen: ВорхатIа, Vorxatha)[1] is a rural locality (a selo) in Vedensky District, Chechnya.
Municipally, Verkhatoy is incorporated into Tsa-Vedenskoye rural settlement. It is one of three settlements included in it.[2]
Verkhatoy is located between the Elistanzhi and Khulkhulau rivers. It is 10km (10miles) north-east of the village of Vedeno.
The nearest settlements to Verkhatoy are Benoy in the north, Guni and Khadzhi-Yurt in the north-east, Tsa-Vedeno and Verkhny Tsa-Vedeno in the south-east, Eshilkhatoy and Elistanzhi in the south, and Khattuni in the south-west.
In 1944, after the genocide and deportation of the Chechen and Ingush people and the Chechen-Ingush ASSR was abolished, the village of Verkhatoy was renamed, and settled by people from the neighboring republic of Dagestan.[3] From 1944 to 1958, it was a part of the Vedensky District of the Dagestan ASSR.
In 1958, after the Vaynakh people returned and the Chechen-Ingush ASSR was restored, the village regained its old Chechen name, Verkhatoy.[4]
According to the 2010 Census, the majority of residents of Verkhatoy were ethnic Chechens.