Sunday, May 28, 2023
Far More Circassians Abroad Want to Return to their North Caucasus Homeland than have Applied to Do So, Expert Says
Paul Goble
Staunton, May 22 – Moscow’s increasingly restrictive approach to those its own laws declare to be compatriots but who do not speak Russian means that the share of the 3.5 million Circassians living in exile in Turkey who have applied to return is far smaller than the actual number who would like to go back, Umit Dincher says.
The president of the Federation of Caucasian Associations of Turkey says that is highlighted by what has happened since last winter’s destructive earthquakes hit that country. Many Circassians were near ground zero of that disaster, hoped to leave but recognized that going to Russia was no longer a real option given Moscow’s policies. Read more
