Statement of the Jordan Association of Caucasus Circassian Friends on Commemorating Genocide and Deportation
In the midst of the spread of the Corona (COVID-19) pandemic in the world and in view of the repercussions that resulted from this serious epidemic, the Circassian nation in its homeland in the North Caucasus and in countries of expatriation commemorates the painful tragedy that befell and affected its existence, in its present and future, as a united nation threatened in its homeland and Diaspora.
May 21 of this year marks the commemoration of one hundred and fifty-six (156) years since the end of the Russian-Circassian War, when the Russian Empire’s military forces occupied the Circassian capital Sochi, which marked the end of a fierce war that lasted for one hundred and one years (101), thus a total occupation of the Circassian soil, pursuit of genocide, ethnic cleansing and forced deportation against the Circassian nation, which is rooted in its original homeland according to distinct civilized and cultural values, together with close and good relations with ancient nations. The Russian Empire worked for hundreds of years after the end of the Golden Horde Mongols’ occupation of all Russian regions for more than two hundred years, after the Muscovites led by Ivan the Terrible and after him the Romanov family led by Peter the Great and his descendants to strengthen and empower the state they created, they invaded countries, homelands and peoples from various ethnicities and origins, which were adjacent to them and neighbors to their neighbors to subjugate. Thus, they annexed these countries and regions to their empire with iron and fire, and in ways that were harsher than the the methods that the Mongols used against them, and therefore, they reached the relatively small peoples and nations of the Caucasus, waged against them long-term wars that claimed the lives of millions, in order to subjugate them, where among them was the Circassian nation that half of the population were wiped out, and 90% of the rest were deported to the Ottoman Empire and then to all parts of the world. It is not an exaggeration to say that the divine punishment fell on the members of the Romanov family, as their fate was no better than their victims’ destiny when the Communists executed them all as a result of the October Revolution.
Adherence to the established constants, lofty values and human rights principles embodies the meaning of the Circassian nation’s insistence to pursue peaceful means and civilized methods to demand the restoration of legitimate Circassian rights in accordance with international laws and norms. Work is underway to uncover all the documented crimes, violations and abuses committed by the Russian Tsarist Empire, where the successive ruling regimes continued to deny the United Nations Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and ignore the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, disregard the legitimate Circassian rights, including the right of return, to those who seek to go back to their Motherland. These authorities have ignored the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the work of the United Nations Special Committee on decolonization. May God have mercy on our blessed honorable heroes who sacrificed their utmost endeavors in order to defend the homeland and the dignity of the nation.
Long Live Free Circassia
Jordan Association of Caucasus Circassian Friends
21 May, 2020
