Friday, September 10, 2021

Two New Circassian Organizations Take Up Cudgels for that Nation’s History, Language and Toponymy

Paul Goble

Staunton, Sept. 10 – Two new Circassian organizations set up last week in Kabardino-Balkaria plan to take up the cudgels for the defense of Circassian history, the survival and growth of the Circassian language, and the maintenance or even more the defense of Circassian place names across the North Caucasus.

The first of these is the Circassian (Adyg) Historical-Geographic Society, and the second is the Unified Circassian Media Space. They already show signs that they will invigorate Circassian activism generally and challenge Moscow (adygplus.blogspot.com/2021/09/new-circassian-historical-geographical.html and caucasustimes.com/ru/cherkesskoe-istoriko-geograficheskogo-obshhestvo-izuchit-gruzinskie-arhivy/). Read more →

Wednesday, August 25, 2021

Circassian Demands for Meeting on Border Dispute Threatens Stability of Two Remaining Bi-National Republics

Paul Goble

Staunton, August 24 – The KBR Coordination Council of Circassian Public Organizations has demanded that the head of Kabardino-Balkaria take steps to guarantee the return to the republic pasture lands illegally occupied by farmers from Karachayevo-Cherkessia, a dispute likely to send shockwaves through the two remaining bi-national republics in Russia.

The amount of land involved is small – the two parcels total only 1724 hectares – but the issue is growing. The Circassians say that the KBR republic must take steps now or they will convene a republic-wide meeting (caucasustimes.com/ru/adygskie-aktivisty-grozjat-vlastjam-kbr-obshherespublikanskim-mitingom/). Read more →

Circassia is Proud of its People

Adel Bashqawi

15 August 2021

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Between Truth and Polemics

Adel Bashqawi

11 August, 2021

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Monday, July 19, 2021

KBR Supreme Court Refuses to Overturn Conviction of Circassian Activist

Paul Goble

Staunton, July 13 – The Kabardino-Balkar Supreme Court left in place the sentence that a lower court handed down in the case of Circassian activist Martin Kochesokov for supposed possession of marijuana, a charge his lawyers, most Circassians and the Memorial human rights organization says is completely without foundation.

Kochesokov, who has long been an activist in the Circassian national movement, was arrested on the same day as Moscow journalist Ivan Golunov who was subsequently released following massive protests in the Russian capital That won Kochesokov the sobriquet of the Circassian Golunov and sparked hopes he might have the same luck (windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2020/07/kochesokov-golunov-of-north-caucasus.html). Read more →

Monday, June 21, 2021

Moscow Wants to Make Study of Non-Russian Languages So Voluntary No One Will Study Them, Khakuasheva Says

Paul Goble

Staunton, June 18 – Since the start of the expansion of Muscovy outside its original borders and its occupation of other nations, language policy has been at the core of nationality policy because if people can be encouraged or forced to give up their language, they almost always sooner or later will give up their nationality, Madian Khakuasheva says.

The Circassian scholar says that the terminology of the center has changed but the overarching goal has remained the same – the total assimilation of all non-Russians into the ethnic Russian nation – and everyone should recognize that any deviation from this postpones but doesn’t change that goal (natpressru.info/index.php?newsid=12466&). Read more →

Friday, June 4, 2021

New Film Documents How Circassians Saved Jews During World War II

Paul Goble

Staunton, June 2 – Nations which have been the victims of genocide often stress their uniqueness in that regard that they don’t reach out to others who have been victims of this same crime against humanity. Two events highlight that the Circassians haven’t followed that path and are interacting with Jews, the victims of another and better-known genocide.

The first involves a documentary film, A Feat of Mercy, prepared by Askarbiya Nagaply, which tells the story of how Circassian communities in the North Caucasus worked to save Jews from falling victim of the Holocaust when the Germans invaded. It will be shown in Maykop on June 22 (natpressru.info/index.php?newsid=12456). Read more →