Address to the Circassian Diaspora

Dear Circassian brothers,

For over 160 years, you have been in exile, far from your homeland — Circassia.

It is you who make up the bulk of our people — about 90%, scattered across dozens of countries around the world. The main potential of any nation lies in its people. The multi-million Circassian diaspora, uniting more than 200 organizations, is the main force of our people today. Now more than ever, the main hope in determining the destiny of the Circassian people rests on you.

Yes, indeed, the only place where our people can reunite and on which they can rely is our homeland — Circassia. Every Circassian, regardless of the country in which they live, has the full moral and historical right to their land and to participate in the destiny of their homeland. Only Circassia is rightfully the true homeland of every Circassian — no matter where they were born or where they live. Our ancestors defended these lands for centuries. It was here that our language, culture, identity, and the people themselves were formed.

More than a century after the genocide, expulsion, and occupation of Circassia, in the early 1990s, the Circassians for the first time had the opportunity to create a unified socio-political organization that brought together representatives from almost all the countries where our people live. This was a truly great achievement.

Within a few years, the Circassian national movement, represented by the International Circassian Association (ICA), achieved significant results. The genocide of the Circassians was recognized by the parliaments of the republics of Kabardino-Balkaria and Adygea. Many Circassians had the opportunity to see their historical homeland for the first time, and some even returned to it.

However, this period of freedom did not last long.

In 2000, Moscow’s secret services forcefully seized control of the International Circassian Association at a congress in Nalchik and placed their own proxies at the head of the organization. Since then, the ICA has virtually ceased to represent the interests of the Circassian people and entirely serves the interests of Moscow. Since the early 2000s, Circassians — both living in the homeland and abroad — face many critically important problems, yet the ICA has never once stood up in defense of the people. Moreover, it actively obstructs initiative groups trying to address pressing issues, engaging in the disorganization and division of the Circassian movement.

Just a few examples:

• Teaching of the native language in the homeland has been minimized to just one hour a week;
• The heads of the Circassian republics are not elected by the people, but appointed from above, and therefore do not serve the people’s interests;
• Circassians on the Black Sea coast are still not fully recognized as an indigenous people;
• During the war in Syria, tens of thousands of Circassians were unable to obtain asylum in their historical homeland and were forced to seek refuge in other countries;
• The authorities obstruct the holding of mourning events on the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Genocide, unlawfully detain people, and ban national holidays. There are many such examples.

And all this time, the ICA has never once stood up for the interests of the Circassian people.

Everything is clear with this organization — it serves Moscow. But what remains incomprehensible is this: who are the diaspora representatives serving when they continue to collaborate with the ICA, meet with its leaders, support them, and pretend that nothing is happening?

Understand this: ordinary Circassians in the homeland do not have the opportunity to speak freely — freedom of speech has been destroyed.

Many of us hope that the Circassian diaspora will stop looking at Moscow through the prism of the ICA and will begin to act independently, defending the interests of the Circassian people, protecting the rights of Circassians to their homeland, and the rights of those who live there but are deprived of a voice. Circassians in the homeland dream that the diaspora will begin to use its potential — to speak about the problems and rights of the Circassian people in their countries of residence and on international platforms.

So that the world finally knows that our people are alive, that we have the same rights as other peoples. So that they hear about the tragedy of the Circassians and that we are still denied the right to return to our historical homeland.

Today, there is no active repatriation program, and there is no opportunity to fully study and preserve our native language.

There is a lot of work to be done — and the time to act is long overdue! Stop bowing to the servants of Moscow. Stop repeating their lies.

Circassians around the world do not seek a forceful confrontation with Russia and pose no threat to it — although it is this country that continues the occupation of our homeland. But the time has come for Circassians to become independent and defend their own interests.

Today, it is the diaspora that has every opportunity to do this. Within the Circassian diaspora, there are healthy forces and organizations that understand what is happening and are ready to act.

I call on you to be more active and resolute in promoting and defending the interests of the Circassian people.

Preserving our culture and maintaining ties among Circassians is important, but the issues of our people’s future can only be resolved in the political sphere. It is necessary to be more politically active and independent. We need to raise our issues in our countries of residence, speak about them on international platforms, and attract the attention of the media. Take to the streets more often with Circassian flags, showcase your culture, and demonstrate that our people are alive and want to live!

It is time for the Circassian diaspora to make itself known, to show its desire to remain Circassians, and to defend its right to its homeland — Circassia!

Head of the Circassian public organization “Khabze”
Martin Kochesoko