Day: July 27, 2014

The head of the Circassian organization Adyge Khase in Karachaevo-Cherkessia accused Russian authorities of having a policy of double standards in regard to assisting compatriots abroad. According to Muhamed Cherkesov, only about 30 Circassian refugees from Syria have been allowed to settle in Karachaevo-Cherkessia, while over the past several months, an estimated 350 refugees from Ukraine were allowed to come to the republic. Cherkesov said the authorities did not provide any assistance for the Circassian refugees, and that no Syrian refugee has received official refugee status because the authorities have denied political refugee status to those fleeing the civil war there. “I am glad that the authorities showed hospitality toward the Ukrainians although they did it on orders from above,” Cherkesov said. “But I do not believe in this hospitality much, because hospitality cannot be selective. If the authorities had hospitality, it would have been shown in regard to the Syrian refugees too. This is showy hospitality. If they did not help the Syrians, at least let them help the Ukrainians, whatever their true motive is.” The activist stated that the Circassians were not surprised by the Russian government’s dismissive attitude toward their interests. “In Russia everything has always been decided by one person. The heart of the current head of the state is dark in regard to the Circassians. So we do not expect any assistance anymore, even though I do not know what Circassians did to Russia to cause such an attitude toward us” (politika09.com, July 17).