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| Ukraine's recognition of Circassian genocide has encouraged activists | |
| 2025-01-12 | |
| Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. [KavkazUzel] Circassian organizations and activists abroad welcomed the recognition of the Circassian genocide by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and expressed hope that this would lead to recognition of the genocide by other countries. The International Circassian Association considered this decision anti-Russian. As the "Caucasian Knot" wrote, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on January 9 recognized the genocide of the Circassians during the Caucasian War and called on Russia to apologize for it. The Circassian Genocide took place during the reign of Tsar Aleksandr I and Tsar Nicolas I The Caucasian War, which lasted from 1763 to 1864, brought the Adyghe people to the brink of extinction. After the war and the mass deportation of the Adyghe to the Ottoman Empire, only a little more than 50,000 people remained in their homeland. The Russian authorities have still not made a decision to recognize the genocide of the Circassians during the war, according to a report from the "Caucasian Knot." The recognition of the Circassian genocide by Ukraine was commented on by the "Caucasian Knot" by the head of the Federation of Circassian Associations (Cherkesfed), which includes more than 20 Circassian primary organizations throughout Turkey, doctor of medicine Nusret Bash, the head of the "Free Circassia" movement Ibrahim Yaganov, historian, publicist and veteran of the Jordanian Air Force, ethnic Circassian Adel Bashkawi, Israeli political scientist, president of the Institute for Eastern Partnership, leader of the "Be'ad Artseynu" (For the Motherland) party, advisor to the inter-party group "Free Caucasus" in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Rabbi Avraham Shmulevich, deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksiy Goncharenko and the author of the text of the draft recognition of the Circassian genocide, political scientist Pavlo Zhovnirenko. Nusret Bash recalled that in the 30 years since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Circassians have appealed to many countries to recognize the genocide they experienced during the Caucasian War, but so far only Georgia has done so in 2011. "The recognition of the genocide filled the Circassians with great joy and revived their hopes. As the Federation of Circassian Associations, we congratulate the Ukrainian parliament on this valuable and exemplary decision and express our gratitude to them," Nusret Bash told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. Ibrahim Yaganov told the "Caucasian Knot" that the Circassians sought recognition specifically from the Ukrainian parliament, since Ukraine had been part of the USSR for a long time and its deputies could more quickly and better understand the situation of the Circassians. "The recognition of the genocide by the Verkhovna Rada is a great event for the entire Circassian people and especially for the national movement. This gives us a chance to return to our historical homeland to revive and restore our ethnicity. Only in our historical homeland can we restore our language, culture and national identity," he told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. As Ibrahim Yaganov noted, the Rada's decision is a very serious step towards the recognition of the genocide by the entire international community. "The text of the recognition of the genocide of the Circassian people states that Ukraine will appeal to other countries with a proposal to recognize the genocide. We will work with the Baltic countries, Finland and Poland, where we have a good chance that we will be heard, understood and the recognition of this genocide will be considered on a legislative basis," he said. Adel Bashkaoui thanked Ukraine for the decision. He agreed that after the recognition of the genocide by Georgia and Ukraine, the Circassians will have the opportunity to work with other states, especially in the post-Soviet space, potentially ready to recognize the Circassian genocide. "The recognition of the genocide will be followed by the recognition of all the rights that accompany it. According to this right, the Circassians should be recognized as victims of genocide by Russia itself, which is bound by many international conventions. And Russia should apologize for what it did against our nation, and pay compensation to our people, and return them to their homeland, since the Circassians have the right to repatriation. And we have the right to self-determination," Bashkaoui told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. According to Adel Bashkawi, the majority of Circassians living in Jordan have retained the Circassian language in communication, and all representatives of the diaspora continue to consider themselves Circassians, despite the fact that their families have lived outside their historical homeland for a century and a half. "We have been in Jordan since the 19th century, we are full citizens here, but we are a minority here. We have three seats in parliament together with the Chechens, and we also have two seats in the upper house of parliament. Of course, this does not distance us from the citizens of Jordan, but people remember that they were once expelled from their homelands and resettled throughout the Ottoman Empire," Bashkawi added. Avraam Shmulevich said that the first time the Circassians approached Ukraine on the issue of recognizing the genocide was back in 2014. "I first raised this issue in 2014, and then the previous composition of the Rada was ready to accept it in the first reading," he said. According to him, political events prevented this. "This issue was put on the agenda in the Rada several times, and now, finally, it was accepted," says Avraam Shmulevich. According to Shmulevich, this is a very important recognition both for the Circassians and for all the peoples of the North Caucasus and the former Russian Empire, and the call for other countries to consider the issue of genocide is necessary for the rehabilitation of all peoples who suffered from imperialism and authoritarianism. “The Circassians are in a unique position: most of them are outside their historical homeland, since Russia expelled them from the North Caucasus. And the current Russian authorities are trying to prevent them from returning to their historical homeland. Although we know that there is a campaign in Russia to return compatriots to their homeland, this only concerns Russians and does not concern the Circassians, who are not recognized as an indigenous people. "The policy towards the Circassians has remained unchanged since the mid-19th century. Several principles have been developed. The first is the fragmentation of the Circassians. We know that the Russian authorities do not recognize the Circassians as a single people. For them, there are separate Kabardians, separate Adyghe, separate Circassians in Karachay-Cherkessia, and separate Shapsugs. That is, one people is artificially divided into four. "The second is the cutting off of the Circassians from the sea. And the third is the destruction of Circassian culture, self-awareness and identity. All this is also happening today. These are the principles that were used by the tsarist generals, that were used by the Bolsheviks, and that are used today by the current Russian authorities,” Shmulevich said. Adyghe (Circassians) is the common name of a single people in Russia and abroad, divided into Kabardians, Circassians and Adyghe. Self-designation is Adyghe (Adyghe). Adyghe live in the territory of six subjects: Adygea, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, Krasnodar Krai, North Ossetia, Stavropol Krai. In three of them, the Adyghe peoples are one of the "titular" nations: Circassians - in Karachay-Cherkessia, Adyghe - in Adygea, Kabardians - in Kabardino-Balkaria. The International Circassian Association (ICA) has unequivocally condemned the recognition of the Circassian genocide and stated that it does not need this recognition. "The other day we witnessed another attempt by Russia's ill-wishers to use the tragic pages of our history, taken out of context, to incite national feelings and use them for their own political selfish purposes. This is the adoption of a resolution by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on the recognition of the Circassian genocide based on an appeal by representatives of the Circassian community who are not associated with official Circassian organizations. However, the Adyghe (Circassian) people do not need such recognition from the illegitimate authorities of Ukraine. We strongly condemn the activities of our fellow tribesmen outside of Russia who are pursuing an anti-Russian policy. We consider the appeal to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the adoption of the corresponding resolution to be provocative and harmful to the present and future of the Adyghe people," the association said in a statement. A "Caucasian Knot" correspondent called the president of the International Circassian Association, Khauti Sokhrokov, and asked him to clarify this position. However, Khauti Sokhrokov, having heard the question, hung up. He also did not respond to written messages. As Ibragim Yaganov stated, the International Circassian Association has not been a legitimate organization of Circassians since 2000. "In 2000, the President of Kabardino-Balkaria, Valery Kokov, did not allow the next congress of the ICA to be held, at which new authorities could have been elected. Then the police did not allow the candidate for the post of the ICA president, Zaur Naloyev, to enter, and those gathered in the hall declared Zaur Nakhushev the president. However, they did not have the authority, there was no seal of the organization, so the ICA has been acting illegally since then," says Yaganov. According to the counterparty verification service List-org.com, the International Circassian Association was registered under the leadership of Yuri Kalmykov on September 25, 1991 in Maykop. It was headed by Yuri Kalmykov, and later by Boris Akbashev. This organization was liquidated by a court decision, as indicated on the website of the Adyghe Republican Register of Public Organizations, in 2010. The organization headed by Khauti Sokhrokov was registered in 2001 in the city of Nalchik. That is, the organizations have different legal addresses and appeared with a difference of 10 years, the "Caucasian Knot" found out. All speculations that Ukraine is allegedly trying to involve the Circassians in the war on its side do not stand up to criticism, said Oleksiy Goncharenko. "Ukraine called what Russia did to the Circassians in the 19th century evil. We cannot say what the consequences will be, but we have said our word, and this is already important," he told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. The statement by activist Ibragim Yaganov about the formation of a Circassian battalion in Ukraine to participate in military operations against Russia has aroused interest among the Adyghe in Russia and abroad, but only as a political statement, and there will be few people willing to sign up as volunteers, Circassian activists interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" indicated in November 2022. Pavlo Zhovnirenko noted that the decision-making process was delayed in part due to the low awareness of Ukrainian society about the Circassian problem, and not all deputies understood why it was necessary to vote for this bill. “In three or four years, significantly more Ukrainians learned that there was a genocide of the Circassian people. I did not conduct research, but from personal acquaintances, from personal communication, I saw that no more than five percent knew about this genocide. And now, I’m afraid to be mistaken, but no less than 40 percent know. And I take everyone - even those who are not interested in politics at all. Thanks to the fact that Circassians on Facebook and other social networks constantly talked about their problems, about their history, Ukrainians learned about this,” he told a correspondent of the “Caucasian Knot”. He believes that the most important thing today is for other countries to recognize the genocide. Zhovnirenko added that "free people cannot leave relatively free countries, for example, Turkey," if Circassian children do not feel like Circassians in Russia. "The entire system - schools, universities and the social environment - are aimed at assimilation," says Pavel Zhovnirenko. Zhovnirenko called on Circassians to work on joint projects to revive their homeland today, since in his opinion, Circassians are more focused on the past than on the future. “The new generation is the most important thing,” he emphasized.
One of the nicest parts of trailing my husband halfway around the world was the friends we made while “over there.” I was given this recipe by a Turkish friend I met while on assignment in Germany. Now she lives in Michigan, and we are here in Cincinnati. We think of her fondly every time we eat her recipe. One whole chicken, cut into pieces OR a roasted chicken from the grocery plus a quart of low-sodium chicken broth salt and pepper, to taste 500 g (1 lb./16 oz.) shelled walnut meats 5-6 garlic cloves 250 g (8 oz) stale white bread If starting with a raw chicken, simmer the cut-up chicken with salt and enough water to cover until meat is cooked through and a broth forms. When done remove chicken and, when cool enough to handle, pull meat off of bones in bite-size pieces. Set aside. While chicken is cooking, place walnuts in a food processor and chop until nuts are finely ground and slightly oily. Add stale bread and garlic cloves, then chop some more until homogenous. Add enough chicken broth to form a liquid paste. Scoop into a large mixing bowl, then stir in the shredded chicken and salt and pepper to taste. Serve garnished with chopped parsley and a shake of sweet paprika on top, and a good baguette cut in slices to spread it on. Nb: This recipe makes enough for two parties. I keep the second serving and an extra baguette in the freezer against impulse invitations, or for individual servings line a muffin tin with plastic wrap and fill cups with dip, cover with another layer of plastic wrap and flash freeze. Roll up the whole thing and store in a freezer bag, taking out individual servings as wanted. | |
| Posted by:badanov |
| #4 I think most Westerners don't know much about that part of the world. One thing I know is that, historically, Russians have had a hell of a time with their southern neighbors and especially with the Turks and Tatars. It's easy for Americans, and apparently Ukrainians, to use words like genocide while forgetting some of their own sins. Native Americans could probably tell you a lot more about that than I can. |
| Posted by: Abu Uluque 2025-01-12 19:29 |
| #3 Booze, raised hemlines. Don't look to Moslem to me. |
| Posted by: badanov 2025-01-12 12:25 |
| #2 The Tsars then moved 'ethnic Russians' into the area and voila, Circassia became 'Historic Russian Lands'. |
| Posted by: Mullah Richard 2025-01-12 07:50 |
| #1 Circassian genocide "the final stages of the Russian invasion of Circassia in the 19th century." Kinda sour grapes now though, eh? "Those planned for extermination were mainly the Circassians, who are predominantly Muslims" Oh ... that's why. |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2025-01-12 06:06 |