North Caucasus

Russia Blocks Circassians Return to Their Homeland

Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 20 Issue: 145

By: Izzet Enunlu

September 20, 2023 

In recent months, tensions have been mounting between Moscow and the Circassian diaspora (see EDM, May 19, 23). The Circassian national movement has gained traction in promoting the Circassian language and encouraging a return to its historical homeland in the North Caucasus. Yet, the Kremlin has increasingly sought to block such efforts. Following the February 2023 earthquakes in Turkey, Russian officials denied the Circassians displaced during the disaster a simplified procedure for returning to their homeland and obtaining citizenship (Kavkaz.Realii, May 1). In 1864, the Circassians were forcibly exiled by the Russian Empire, and their lands resettled by other ethnic groups. The Russian Federation has never recognized the exiled population as compatriots and denies their right to return to the North Caucasus. Read more →

07 September 2023, 22:15

Threats against advocate Solomina highlight trend of persecution of victims of domestic violence

When commenting on the threats faced by advocate Tatiana Solomina, human rights defenders have noted that those who try to help victims of domestic violence in the republics of Northern Caucasus often find themselves at risk, as they begin to receive threats from family members of a victim they defended.

Read more →

Paul Goble’s 50 Windows on Eurasia / August 21, 2023

Read more →

Paul Goble’s 50 Windows on Eurasia / August 12, 2023

Read more →

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

Last Steps May Be the Hardest: Circassians on Brink of Achieving Independence

Paul Goble

Window on Eurasia

Remarks prepared for the International Conference on Independent Circassia

Istanbul, August 5, 2023 Read more →

Circassia the Day After: Future Circassia

By: Adel Bashqawi

August 2, 2023

Read more →

Sunday, July 23, 2023

War in Ukraine Pushing North Caucasians from Interest in Federalism to Backing Independence, Yevloyeva Says

Paul Goble

 

Staunton, July 20 – Non-Russians in the North Caucasus and especially in its eastern half have shifted their positions since the start of Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine, Izabella Yevloyeva says. Before February 2022, most were interested in greater autonomy and federalism; now, ever more of them believe that independence is the only way forward and that it is possible.

Yevloyeva, the founding editor of the independent Ingushetia portal Fortanga, reaches that conclusion after surveying the opinions of experts about attitudes across the North Caucasus (kavkazr.com/a/hotyat-li-kavkaztsy-nezavisimosti-voyna-v-ukraine-i-dekolonizatsiya-v-rossii/32501825.html). Read more →