Descendants of genocide victims are still suffering today – Circassian movement under pressure

The Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) commemorates the beginning of the genocide against the Circassians exactly 150 years ago. "To this day, the descendants of the genocide victims suffer from the crimes of collective expulsion of their people by the Russian government on May 21, 1864, following the Russian-Caucasian war," reported the STP's expert on questions regarding the CIS states, Sarah Reinke, in Berlin on Tuesday. "Historians estimate that about one million people lost their lives back then."

Today, the descendants of the Circassians live scattered all over the world. In the Caucasus region, there are almost 900,000 again today. During the preparations for the Winter Olympics, a Circassian movement was established – to advocate for the recognition of crimes against the Circassians and to find ways to enable Circassian refugees from Syria to return to their former homeland. However, the local authorities are pressurizing the movement and there are arrests.

For example, Beslan Teuvazhev was arrested by employees of the Interior Ministry in Moscow on May 19, when he picked up bands from a print shop that had been prepared for the 150th anniversary of the end of the Russian-Caucasian war and the expulsion of the Circassians from north-western Caucasus. Three Circassian students from Syria were expelled because they allegedly took part in pro-Circassian demonstrations.

Again and again, there are massive racist attacks against Circassians in the region. On May 11, for example, there was a mass fight in a café in Krasnodar. The offenders had asked around who was Russian and had beaten up all the others. Eight people needed medical treatment later – including the 25-year-old Circassian Timur Ashinov. He died after an operation on May 13 and was buried on May 15. The 400 mourners then marched to Krasnodar to block a highway. They demanded independent investigations on the case and punishment for the perpetrators.

The return of the Circassians from Syria or refugees from Turkey into north-western Caucasus is difficult. In 2014, only 300 Circassians were able to return to Adygea, for example - 150 less than in 2013. Thousands of Circassians from Syria have therefore sought refuge in Turkey. Many of them were taken up by Circassian families. However, as this possibility is now exhausted, many had to turn to the refugee camp Nizip. According to eyewitnesses, there were attacks on Circassian families there, so the people are trying to move on to the larger cities in Turkey to try and find work. They complain about not receiving enough support by the international aid organizations. Most of the aid measures are privately organized by small Circassian associations – but this is by far not enough. 

Sarah Reinke - head of the Berlin office and STP's expert on Eastern Europe - is available for further questions: Tel. 030 428 048 91 or berlin@gfbv.de.