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Circassian Activists in Turkey Receive Boost from Erdogan
Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 10 Issue: 100
May 28, 2013 05:35 PM
By: Valery Dzutsev
Circassians commemorating the 149th anniversary of the end of the
Russo-Caucasian war, Nalchik, May 21
On May 21, Circassians worldwide marked the 149th anniversary of the
end of the Russo-Caucasian war. In the North Caucasus, the largest
republic with a Circassian population, Kabardino-Balkaria, held
multiple events marking the anniversary. Hundreds of young people
staged a procession in the republic's capital, Nalchik, and an
estimated 3,000 people participated in a rally in the central part of
the city. The leadership of the republic was also present at the
rally, underlying the political importance of the event. The president
of the International Circassian Association, Khauti Sokhrokov, stated
at the rally that the Russian-Caucasian war changed the fate of the
Circassian people. `Only an impartial assessment of this war will give
[us] the right to look into each other's eyes calmly and not leave
this problem to the next generations,' Sokhrokov said
(http://www.kavkaz-uzel.ru/articles/224505/). The procession of
Circassian youth in Nalchik featured quite frank slogans, such as `We
remember the 1763-1864 Circassian genocide'
(http://kavpolit.com/21-maya-den-pamyati-i-skorbi-cherkesov-traurnoe-shestvie-v-nalchike-31-foto/).
Khauti Sokhrokov is closely connected to the government of
Kabardino-Balkaria and is ostensibly loyal to Moscow, but even with
this background his statements resemble those of independent
Circassian activists. Even officials in the republic cannot nowadays
simply ignore the issue of recognizing the Russian Empire's `genocide'
of the Circassians in the 19th century. At the same time, the
authorities try to appropriate public discussion on the Circassians'
past travails. The rally in Nalchik was officially endorsed and likely
organized in part by the republican government. A few speakers called
on the Circassians not to dwell on past events, but work instead to
`develop Kabardino-Balkaria.' The regional authorities in Krasnodar
region devised their own way of alleviating the Circassians'
grievances. On May 21, the Day of Memory and Grief marked by the
Circassians, authorities in Krasnodar planned to invite Circassian
activists to the sites where the Russian army celebrated its victory
over the Circassians in 1864, followed by an excursion to the 2014
Olympic sites in Sochi. In this way, the authorities in Krasnodar
would add an insult to injury (http://aheku.org/page-id-3557.html).
Many Circassians have been opposed to the Olympics in Sochi, calling
it the `land of genocide' and demanding that Russia recognize the
tragic events, which happened there as `genocide'.
Circassian claims received an unexpected boost from Turkey during the
149th anniversary of the war's end. Selahattin Demirta?, the chairman
of the Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party in Turkey, spoke in favor of
Turkey recognizing the Circassian genocide, which gave an important
international boost to Circassian claims. `Turkey traditionally does
not welcome topics related to genocide and pogroms,' Demirta? said.
`This morning, Circassian associations held protest actions in front
of the Russian Embassy. In our turn, we intend to propose that
parliament recognize the Circassian genocide and promote publicity for
this issue in the international political arena'
(http://aheku.org/page-id-3560.html). Moreover, on May 18, the
Circassian diaspora in Istanbul unveiled a monument dedicated to the
genocide and exile of the Circassians. The organizers of the event
invited Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo?an to attend, and
even though the prime minister did not find time to visit the site, he
sent a sympathetic letter stating: `I reckon that such events possess
special importance for both, receiving international acclaim and
strengthening our unity and brotherhood that is held together by
honoring the memory of those who died in exile'
(http://aheku.org/page-id-3559.html).
The `genocide' issue is especially sensitive for Turkey, because of
Armenians' claims that Turkey should recognize the atrocities
committed in 1915 as `genocide' by the Ottoman Empire. The Russian
Federation officially recognized the Armenian `genocide' in 1995
(http://ria.ru/spravka/20100305/212370444.html), so if Turkey were to
recognize the Circassian `genocide' by the Russian Empire in 19th
century, it would be only a belated tit-for-tat move. Georgia is thus
far the only country in the world to have officially recognized the
Circassian `genocide': it did so in 2011. Turkey may want to avoid
negative repercussions, as it has relatively warm relations with
Russia. At the same time, Turkey is certainly trying to establish
itself as a regional power that has its own views on the countries
that border it. This means that Ankara will have to make some
decisions that strengthen its identity and show its leadership role.
Therefore, the issue of recognizing the Circassian `genocide' appears
to be growing as part of the widening public debate inside Turkey.
Russian-Turkish relations soured over the past several years in
connection to the opposing views of the crisis in Syria. The civil war
in Syria is also related to the Circassian question, since thousands
of ethnic Circassians reside in this war-torn country and some of them
have fled to Turkey. Turkey has the largest Circassian diaspora in the
world, numbering up to 5 million people, so the Turkish authorities
are understandably attentive to what the Circassians say about the
situation in the North Caucasus. The upcoming Winter Olympics in Sochi
raises the stakes of the Circassian question. The significance of any
political decision regarding recognition of the Circassian genocide
would be magnified because of the world's attention to the region.
Both the Circassians in the North Caucasus who are loyal to Moscow and
independent Circassian activists expect Russian authorities to somehow
act upon the Circassian question and stop avoiding it, particularly as
the 2014 Olympics in Sochi make it virtually unavoidable. Moscow's
inaction on the issue, it seems, no longer satisfies anyone among the
Circassians. And with growing awareness in Turkey, it seems that the
issue is not losing momentum, but forcing Moscow further and further
into a state of genocide denial.
http://www.jamestown.org/programs/edm/single/?tx_ttnews[tt_news]=40935&tx_ttnews[backPid]=685&no_cache=1
From: A. Papazian
Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 10 Issue: 100
May 28, 2013 05:35 PM
By: Valery Dzutsev
Circassians commemorating the 149th anniversary of the end of the
Russo-Caucasian war, Nalchik, May 21
On May 21, Circassians worldwide marked the 149th anniversary of the
end of the Russo-Caucasian war. In the North Caucasus, the largest
republic with a Circassian population, Kabardino-Balkaria, held
multiple events marking the anniversary. Hundreds of young people
staged a procession in the republic's capital, Nalchik, and an
estimated 3,000 people participated in a rally in the central part of
the city. The leadership of the republic was also present at the
rally, underlying the political importance of the event. The president
of the International Circassian Association, Khauti Sokhrokov, stated
at the rally that the Russian-Caucasian war changed the fate of the
Circassian people. `Only an impartial assessment of this war will give
[us] the right to look into each other's eyes calmly and not leave
this problem to the next generations,' Sokhrokov said
(http://www.kavkaz-uzel.ru/articles/224505/). The procession of
Circassian youth in Nalchik featured quite frank slogans, such as `We
remember the 1763-1864 Circassian genocide'
(http://kavpolit.com/21-maya-den-pamyati-i-skorbi-cherkesov-traurnoe-shestvie-v-nalchike-31-foto/).
Khauti Sokhrokov is closely connected to the government of
Kabardino-Balkaria and is ostensibly loyal to Moscow, but even with
this background his statements resemble those of independent
Circassian activists. Even officials in the republic cannot nowadays
simply ignore the issue of recognizing the Russian Empire's `genocide'
of the Circassians in the 19th century. At the same time, the
authorities try to appropriate public discussion on the Circassians'
past travails. The rally in Nalchik was officially endorsed and likely
organized in part by the republican government. A few speakers called
on the Circassians not to dwell on past events, but work instead to
`develop Kabardino-Balkaria.' The regional authorities in Krasnodar
region devised their own way of alleviating the Circassians'
grievances. On May 21, the Day of Memory and Grief marked by the
Circassians, authorities in Krasnodar planned to invite Circassian
activists to the sites where the Russian army celebrated its victory
over the Circassians in 1864, followed by an excursion to the 2014
Olympic sites in Sochi. In this way, the authorities in Krasnodar
would add an insult to injury (http://aheku.org/page-id-3557.html).
Many Circassians have been opposed to the Olympics in Sochi, calling
it the `land of genocide' and demanding that Russia recognize the
tragic events, which happened there as `genocide'.
Circassian claims received an unexpected boost from Turkey during the
149th anniversary of the war's end. Selahattin Demirta?, the chairman
of the Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party in Turkey, spoke in favor of
Turkey recognizing the Circassian genocide, which gave an important
international boost to Circassian claims. `Turkey traditionally does
not welcome topics related to genocide and pogroms,' Demirta? said.
`This morning, Circassian associations held protest actions in front
of the Russian Embassy. In our turn, we intend to propose that
parliament recognize the Circassian genocide and promote publicity for
this issue in the international political arena'
(http://aheku.org/page-id-3560.html). Moreover, on May 18, the
Circassian diaspora in Istanbul unveiled a monument dedicated to the
genocide and exile of the Circassians. The organizers of the event
invited Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo?an to attend, and
even though the prime minister did not find time to visit the site, he
sent a sympathetic letter stating: `I reckon that such events possess
special importance for both, receiving international acclaim and
strengthening our unity and brotherhood that is held together by
honoring the memory of those who died in exile'
(http://aheku.org/page-id-3559.html).
The `genocide' issue is especially sensitive for Turkey, because of
Armenians' claims that Turkey should recognize the atrocities
committed in 1915 as `genocide' by the Ottoman Empire. The Russian
Federation officially recognized the Armenian `genocide' in 1995
(http://ria.ru/spravka/20100305/212370444.html), so if Turkey were to
recognize the Circassian `genocide' by the Russian Empire in 19th
century, it would be only a belated tit-for-tat move. Georgia is thus
far the only country in the world to have officially recognized the
Circassian `genocide': it did so in 2011. Turkey may want to avoid
negative repercussions, as it has relatively warm relations with
Russia. At the same time, Turkey is certainly trying to establish
itself as a regional power that has its own views on the countries
that border it. This means that Ankara will have to make some
decisions that strengthen its identity and show its leadership role.
Therefore, the issue of recognizing the Circassian `genocide' appears
to be growing as part of the widening public debate inside Turkey.
Russian-Turkish relations soured over the past several years in
connection to the opposing views of the crisis in Syria. The civil war
in Syria is also related to the Circassian question, since thousands
of ethnic Circassians reside in this war-torn country and some of them
have fled to Turkey. Turkey has the largest Circassian diaspora in the
world, numbering up to 5 million people, so the Turkish authorities
are understandably attentive to what the Circassians say about the
situation in the North Caucasus. The upcoming Winter Olympics in Sochi
raises the stakes of the Circassian question. The significance of any
political decision regarding recognition of the Circassian genocide
would be magnified because of the world's attention to the region.
Both the Circassians in the North Caucasus who are loyal to Moscow and
independent Circassian activists expect Russian authorities to somehow
act upon the Circassian question and stop avoiding it, particularly as
the 2014 Olympics in Sochi make it virtually unavoidable. Moscow's
inaction on the issue, it seems, no longer satisfies anyone among the
Circassians. And with growing awareness in Turkey, it seems that the
issue is not losing momentum, but forcing Moscow further and further
into a state of genocide denial.
http://www.jamestown.org/programs/edm/single/?tx_ttnews[tt_news]=40935&tx_ttnews[backPid]=685&no_cache=1
From: A. Papazian