Since the Middle Ages, Melkhista has been known as the birthplace and historical center of the Melkhi tukkhum, one of the nine Chechen tukkhums. Before, Melkhista and Maysta were a part of Georgia, but were transferred to the Chechen Autonomous Oblast in 1927. In 1944, the entire population was deported to Kazakhstan. Since then, there has been no permanent population in the region.