November 10, 2014
Annexation of Crimea Spurs Cooperation between Crimean Tatars and Circassians
By: Valery Dzutsev
Having annexed the Crimean peninsula, Russia unintentionally accelerated the laying of groundwork for cooperation between the Crimean Tatars and the Circassians, according to Circassian activist Andzor Kabard. The Circassian Rights Initiative, a Turkish organization, took the first steps to establish closer contacts with the Crimean Tatars back in 2013. The Circassians asked Crimean Tatar organizations in Turkey and their organization in Ukraine, the Milli Mejlis, to cooperate to advance the interests of their respective peoples. Shortly after Russia’s formal annexation of Crimea this past spring, Circassian and Crimean Tatar activists in Turkey reached an agreement to lobby for their interests jointly (ekhokavkaza.com, November 5). Read more
