Genocide Countdown

121 Days to the Circassian Genocide 150th year Commemoration

Document 316

27 July 1864 – Order for the Caucassian Army with the announcement of Alexander II’ s order to end the Caucassian war.

Billy Kljuc base

On the occasion of ending the Caucassian war His Majesty the Emperor asked me to express his appreciation to the High distinguished service provided by the Caucasian military with all its units to declare the following:

“To His Royal Highness Prince

Culminated with the brilliant achievements by the Caucasian forces led by its heroic leaders who waged long bloody wars in order to protect our lands adjacent to the Caucasus lands, and our brothers in religion from brutal attacks of Muslims invasions after they put their fate in the hands of Russia, and to the adoption of peace in a country that was from the ancient days an arena for internal conflicts and looting.

The honorable task to end the process of conquering the West Caucasus, which lasted a century and a half and a declaration to the Russian people that the Caucasus has become free from all the hostile tribes, was your highness’s victory.

On this great occasion, and for the praise for the tremendous efforts made by the Caucasian army in order to reach such a happy ending in the long-term conflict I ordered the Secretary of War to established the following medals:

1) A Cross as a special memorial of conquering the Caucasus to be given to every officer and soldier who took part in the military operations against hostile Caucasian tribes.

2) A special Medal for conquering western Caucasus to those who participated in military operations in the last 4 years from the year 1859, until 1864, and a reward for the distinctive heroic acts carried out by the Caucasian army in the final phase of the war to achieve the great Caucasus conquer. The government ordered the following:

1. Approval for a new military service compulsory for those who entered military service on 8 September 1859, and those who apply to the law of compulsory service for 20 years for the right of retirement and those who are serving or have served in the Caucasian Army before 1864, a period of 15 years, while retaining this right also when transferred to other forces outside the Caucasian region.

The Secretary of War assigned to issue orders to refer to the mentioned militants and those who have served 15 years before January 1st of 1864 and the law does not prevent them from retirement.

2. Reducing the duration of compulsory military service for all components of Kuban Cossack Forces and Terek Cossack Forces up to 15 years of field service, and 7 years of inside the country service.

This is my will that I need your highness to declare for the brave Caucasian Army, which have the glory and thanks from our beloved country, on this great achievement of peace in the whole Caucasus region in favor of the Russian state, and to you we give our lasting gratitude and pride.

Written by His Majesty the Emperor: Loving Honestly, Alexander

On July the 2nd of 1864 – the town of Krasnueh Selo.

I have the pleasure to be appointed to transfer to you the will of the High Commissioner; you brave sons of the Caucasian army.

The leaders of armies in the areas of Kuban, the Turk, Dagestan and the province of Kotys ordered to circulate this in all brigades and Cossack battalions after an official thankful prayer party that will be held in all units on the dates that will be determined at a later time, but in the region beyond the Caucasus I declare local administrators to circulate this order in the regions of their management.

The signing of the Commander in Chief Major General Mikhail

State Archives of the Krasnodar Territory, p. 347, op. 1, 52, p. 5-7.

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122 Days to the Circassian Genocide 150th year Commemoration

Document 239

5 January 1864

The letter of the Commander in Chief of the Caucasus Army, Great Duke Mikhail Nikolayevich, addressed to the Minister of War Milutin, in regard to providing possible assistance to the sailors who wish to settle in the Eastern coast of the Black Sea.

After the end of the Crimean War, there are large numbers of retired sailors and their families residing in the city of Stavropol and the city of Nikolayev, and they do not have savings or work.

For the importance and necessity to accelerate the process of settlement in the coast line by inhabitants that have the knowledge of how to deal with the sea, and knowledge of maritime affairs, and over time the possibility to avail individuals able to work in the navy. I kindly request from Your Excellency to provide the possible support to bring in individuals willing to settle the Eastern coast of the Black Sea from the families of the retired sailors who have children, and if their families are without children, then the members of these families must not be very old.

And whoever declares his wish to settle the Caucasus, must be present in Fort Constantine at the end of May 1864, and could be brought onboard government vessels or the vessels belonging to the Russian companies, as for the cost of transportation and feeding them during the process of transportation, will be disbursed that from the amounts that have been allocated from the capital of the Administration of the Black Sea Region earmarked for the construction of rural houses for sailors working near the city and the cities of Nikolayev and Stavropol, therefore who have the desire to move to the Caucasus, there will be the need to build new houses for them. As for the government departments in the Caucasus, in addition to granting lands to settlers, they would present them with aids, rights and privileges mentioned in provisions related to settling the plains of the Western regions of the Caucasus Mountains.

I request from Your Excellency to let us know the orders of His Majesty the Emperor.

——————–
Government Archives – Georgia, P .416, and by .3, B .221, for .1-2.

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123 Days to the Circassian Genocide 150th year Commemoration

Document 236

Year 1863

With respect to the Circassians’ free transportation of Turkey.

In case a possibility has developed new conditions for the agreement with Russian marine and commercial shipping companies to transfer all Abzakh and Shabsough wishing to move to Turkey from the Gulfs of Galindjiskoy and Novorasesskoy on board ferries at the expense of the Treasury, so it is likely that most of the rebels would show their interest in free departure and they will leave their homeland without a fight. Russian companies are currently charging 4 rubles per person for the transfer of Mountaineers, but if they reduce this price, it would have annual expenses that were allocated from the annual budget for this purpose, inexpensive, and the best reward was to speed up the end of the war.

——————–
Government archives – the Krasnodar region, P .325, and by .1, b .301.

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124 Days to the Circassian Genocide 150th year Commemoration

Document 210

11, September, 1863

Report of the Governor of the Natokhawaj Province and Commander of Adagom Regiment troops, General Evdokimov, regarding the completion of the process of deporting the Natokhaway living near the Adagom Regiment Station, to the places that have been allocated to them.

In accordance with Your Excellency’s orders, addressed in your letter No. 1451, I would inform you that the Natokhaway who are living near Adagom Regiment’s military station, have moved lastingly to the places that have been allocated for them, between Pseh Bepsom, Desibsinom River and Bakinom River on the 8th of September, and concerning their homes they left behind, and their other structures, the military forces have torched and destroyed them, and will continue that, but not before the 12th of this month, because the stocks of wheat, fodder and straw are located near these buildings, and has been the dismantling and relocation of many of the tents to be burned. And to guard wheat stocks, I have allowed some people persons from the Natokhaway to have presence near them, but without their families in anticipation of an accident of any sort, and in the event of something arises, the persons present near the site will be arrested, and will be exiled to Russia, and the Natokhaway were notified that they have to transport wheat to their new homes before the onset of winter, and at present time, their livestock had been transferred to Psih River, and they were allowed to retain a small number of livestock to be used as food until the onset of winter.

The commander of Adagom Regiment forces had firmly demanded from the heads of local communities to stress on their communities for the need to apprise them of their movements, in case they return to their former residences, the guilty will be punished according to law, and starting from the 14th of September, the troops will patrol the areas located from Napergayvskoy way, down to Kaberdenskojo old fort, stationed on the left side through the corridors and reaching to the Shapsug peaceful villages, and from the right side, it is from Mortkhotko and Ketsigoro. Down to Khabel River, and they will be expelled to the villages that had been subdued or to Turkey, but as those who will go in large numbers to the previous Shapsugs’ areas, they will be confined between the Gelin Giskom River and Bashadoi River.
Signature
General Babich

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125 Days to the Circassian Genocide 150th year Commemoration

Document 124

1860 May 25 – Evdokimov’s letter addressed to Orbeliani, with suggestion of providing him with information about the desire of Kabardians to go to pilgrimage.

Lacking still positive information about the movement of people who wanted to goon a pilgrimage to Turkey, I strongly urge Your Excellency to inform me about their destination:

Will the people who had registered their names earlier for departure, stay in their places? Or are they still hoping to depart to Turkey? And in the case of the latter it concerns me greatly, to know the number of families that intend to depart from your province, and when exactly they intend of depart…

I am particularly interested in knowing if those Kabardians that you intended to expel have departed and the similar number of families that had gathered and whether they have departed to their destination, since the date that you have specified has passed.

Central State Archive of the CBD, f. 2, Op. A, d 465, n. 10-11.

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126 Days to the Circassian Genocide 150th year Commemoration

Document 120

1860 April 30 – Confidential notification
From the Commander of Left Wing Forces Evdokimov to the Head of Kabarday Province Orbeliani, on the delegation and the desire of care of the restless Kabardians.

Appreciating Your Excellency’s orders about the disposal of the province’s Mountaineers that is entrusted to you, I cordially solicit from Your Excellency that you will announce to the delegates traveling to Turkey, that they are required to seek the consent of the Turkish government for resettlement , which no one will be allowed to move without it. It is wished that Your Excellency will send these delegates to Vladikavkaz, where Major General Zotov will order their disposal to Tbilisi.

In order to be able to dismiss the restless and retain those who only showed interest in moving under pressure of fanatics, I authorize you to grant the request from the owners to retain who accompanied them, and choose -with the direction of our loyal chiefs- from 60 to 100 families of the most turbulent and fanatical and send them by sea to exile during an assigned date that you would determine.

CBD, f. 2, Op. A, d 465, n. 4 on.

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127 Days to the Circassian Genocide 150th year Commemoration

Document 113

July 30, 1859
A Letter from the Commander of Forces to the Head of the Mala-Labinsk Line, including the layout of the conditions to be imposed on those who are Leaving to Turkey. Read more →