Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[KavkazUzel] The action to mark the end of the Caucasian War and the expulsion of the Circassians from their historical homeland is taking place in Istanbul under enhanced security measures. Activists were not allowed to hold an action on the main street of the European part of Istanbul, where the Russian Consulate General is located.
| “You may not upset our new friends, the Russians, who already tried to wipe you out once, and are displeased that you still exist.” |
As the "Caucasian Knot" wrote, on May 20, residents of Kabardino-Balkaria honored the memory of the victims of the Caucasian War on the occasion of the 160th anniversary of its end. They gathered in Nalchik at the Tree of Life monument. Today a rally took place in Nalchik, the participants noted that it is important, while preserving the memory of their ancestors, to learn lessons from history and think about future generations. Today, on the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Caucasian War, ceremonial events dedicated to its end were held in Adygea, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia and the Krasnodar Territory.
The Caucasian War, which lasted from 1763 to 1864, brought the Adyghe peoples to the brink of extinction. After the war and the mass deportation of the Circassians to the Ottoman Empire, a little more than 50 thousand people remained in their homeland. The Russian authorities have not yet made a decision to recognize the genocide of the Circassians during the war, according to a certificate from the "Caucasian Knot".
About five hundred representatives of the Circassian community of Turkey gathered today in the center of Istanbul in the area of Istiklal Street, not far from the Russian Consulate General on the occasion of the 160th anniversary of the expulsion of the North Caucasian peoples, most of whom were Circassians, from their historical homeland, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports from the scene..
The participants, Circassian activists, members of Turkish political parties and ordinary residents of Istanbul came to the “Day of Remembrance and Sorrow” action with flags in their hands. Some participants came with flags of the Mountain Republic, the Republic of Adygea, and the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria*.
The event began with a prayer for those who died in the Caucasian War and during the expulsion of the Circassians. On the installed monitor, video chronicles are broadcast, reproducing historical events of the period of the Caucasian War and the expulsion of the Circassians.
According to various estimates, up to 1.5 million Circassians were expelled from their historical homeland, about 400-500 thousand of them died on the way to the Ottoman Empire, TRT TV channel reported today. The Circassian community in Turkey numbers at least 5 million people; the Circassians themselves estimate its number to be approximately 8 million ethnic Circassians.
After the rally, at which patriotic songs are heard and activists speak, its participants intend to carry a funeral wreath with the inscription: “160 years of the Circassian genocide” to the walls of the Russian Consulate General, which is today cordoned off by several rows of metal fences and police cordons.
In recent years, the action of the Circassian community has been held on the outskirts of Istiklal Street, which during the coronavirus pandemic was motivated by the authorities for reasons of epidemic safety, but after several years the Circassians were not allowed back into the main historical street of the European part of Istanbul, where diplomatic missions of many countries are located, including Russian.
Circassian activists explained to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that the change in the attitude of the authorities is associated with the position of the Russian diplomatic mission and the Russian Foreign Ministry, which consider the actions of the Turkish Circassians to be hostile and harmful to bilateral relations.
Increased security measures are in place at the site of the rally, dozens of police officers and special equipment have been deployed.
Adygs (Circassians) is the general name of a single people in Russia and abroad, divided into Kabardians, Circassians, and Adygeis. May 21 is celebrated annually as the Day of Remembrance of the Circassians, according to the certificate of the "Caucasian Knot".
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Participants of the rally in Cherkessk honored those killed in the Caucasian War
The day of the end of the Caucasian War is an occasion to remember the ancestors who died for the sake of the lives of future generations, participants in the rally in Cherkessk told the Caucasian Knot. The authorities should help the Circassians who want to return to their historical homeland; this will help preserve the language and culture, they believe.
As the "Caucasian Knot" wrote, on May 20, residents of Kabardino-Balkaria honored the memory of the victims of the Caucasian War on the occasion of the 160th anniversary of its end. They gathered in Nalchik at the Tree of Life monument. Today a rally took place in Nalchik, the participants noted that it is important, while preserving the memory of their ancestors, to learn lessons from history and think about future generations. Today, on the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Caucasian War, ceremonial events dedicated to its end were held in Adygea, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia and the Krasnodar Territory.
The Caucasian War, which lasted from 1763 to 1864, brought the Adyghe peoples to the brink of extinction. After the war and the mass deportation of the Circassians to the Ottoman Empire, a little more than 50 thousand people remained in their homeland. The Russian authorities have not yet made a decision to recognize the genocide of the Circassians during the war, according to a certificate from the "Caucasian Knot".
A meeting in memory of the victims of the Caucasian War took place today on the outskirts of Cherkessk, near the monument to the Victims of the Caucasian War of 1763-1864. Several hundred people gathered there, they held green Circassian flags with arrows, red Abaza flags with a palm, one could see the flags of Abkhazia, as well as the flags of Karachay-Cherkessia and Russia. Some participants wore national costumes.
Chairman of the People's Assembly of Karachay-Cherkessia Alexander Ivanov, Chairman of the Government of Karachay-Cherkessia Murat Argunov, deputies, social activists, and representatives of the clergy addressed those gathered at the rally. In particular, at the very beginning of the event, the qadi of Karachay-Cherkessia Muratbiy Laipanov read a dua.
The entire event consisted of speeches by officials and representatives of public organizations, a minute of silence was also announced, after which those present laid flowers and wreaths at the monument and dispersed. All this took about an hour.
Three participants in the rally, on condition of anonymity, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that they came to the rally "from work" and did not give comments. Only one of them noted that “employees of schools and kindergartens” came to the action.
The memory of those who died in this terrible war must always be honored
The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent managed to talk with several local residents who came to the rally of their own free will. “I came here to honor the memory of those who died in the Caucasian War 160 years ago,” said Renat Shevkarov, a resident of Cherkessk. “I am very glad that everyone came here to honor the memory just like me, the memory of those who died in this terrible war must always be honored,” he added.
“I came to honor the memory of my ancestors, to celebrate the end of the 101-year war that year, 160 years ago,” said Muradin Fizikov, who came to the event with a Circassian flag. He clarified that he goes to events on May 21 every year. "It is important to know your history, to know the past. Without this there will be no future," he added.
Another local resident, Askhad, said that if possible, work allows, he always comes to the events on May 21. “This day is a day of mourning for our ancestors who died in the war. We must pay tribute to them, show respect, honor their memory. Thanks to them, we now live, our families, our children,” he recalled.
Local resident Aslan came to the rally with his son of primary school age, who had a Circassian flag in his hands. “For us, Circassians, this is a day of mourning, and we came to honor the memory of our ancestors. For us, this is a tradition - and it is important to pass on these traditions, khabze, to our children,” he emphasized.
Our people were tortured, torn apart, destroyed, and I believe that we need to remember this
A rally participant named Zahual also said that he came to honor the memory of his ancestors, and noted with regret that if everyone were like him, there should be thousands of people here, but this is not the case. “Our people were tortured, torn apart, destroyed, and I think that we need to remember this. Some people may not give a damn, but I don’t. I remember this and tell my children. We are not against Russia, but we must think about those who, because of those events, found themselves scattered across more than 50 countries. There are those who would like to return to their historical homeland. But now our nation is divided in many ways, and I do not exclude that. under such conditions, the nation will disappear, the language will disappear,” he lamented.
A 17-year-old resident of Cherkessk came to the rally of his own free will and in a national costume. “I really honor the memory of my ancestors and love my culture, and I wear our national costume to any event,” explained the high school student. “Today is a day of mourning, and we go to rallies to show that we honor the memory of our ancestors and are proud of them, their exploits, what they did for us to live now,” the young man added.
Anzor Nashev, who came to the rally with a Circassian flag, considers it obligatory for himself to attend such rallies. “Today we are in mourning, May 21, I am Circassian by nationality, and it is my duty to be here. This is the memory of our ancestors who fought, so that we can live today. I wish not only the Caucasus, but the entire Russian Federation, that we were united like one fist," he added.
Let us remind you that May 21, the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Caucasian War, is officially declared a non-working day in Adygea, Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia, where the Circassians are the titular nation. In 2023, the authorities of Kabardino-Balkaria banned events on May 20 and 21 in memory of the victims of the Caucasian War, threatening liability for violating the ban. In Nalchik, events were held to mark the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Caucasian War, including a procession through the streets of the city that was not permitted by the authorities. The participants of the actions considered it important to preserve Adyghe traditions.
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