The following is the participation in the title of “The Planned Sochi Olympics and the Circassian Muhajeers; Past, Present and Future” presented by Iyad Youghar at the Tbilisi Conference held in the period between 13 and 14, July, 2012.
The Planned Sochi Olympics and the Circassian Muhajeers; Past, Present and Future.
The Circassians have been renowned, even among their enemies, to have perfected their way of life through a set of social laws, norms and etiquettes known as Adyga Khabza. Royalties and nobilities of neighboring nations used to send their sons to be brought up in Circassia to earn a strong consciousness of right and wrong and to learn courage, truthfulness and selflessness.
During the years of the Russian war and Genocide against Circassia which ended as militarily operations only, in 1864,Circassians were robbed of the opportunity as a European people to develop their societies to initiate the foundation of a modern state as many nations did in 18th and 19th centuries .Forced to defend its freedom against the endless onslaught of one of the biggest and most ruthless and cruel aggressors in known human history, Circassia simply was deprived of having its own national structure and infrastructure of cities ,governments, institution, schools ,universities, hospital, ,markets, roads where nations usually build their future.
Despite the uniquely civilized Circassian culture and despite the fact the Circassian tragedy is proportionally unparalleled in the history of humanity; Circassians were not able to raise the awareness of their Genocide in the past. Due mainly to Circassia lack of intellectual structures and institutions which would have otherwise made the world more aware of the tragedy! Obviously Russia had used every possible method to keep its Genocide against Circassians hidden. This was very evident by using the terminology “Muhajeer” officially by the Russians to give the impression that %90 of the exiled Circassia nation had left on its own! By its free will without being forced out! Departing away willingly from its historical homeland where it has existed since times immemorial! The Arabic word Muhajeer could mean just that.
Today Circassians are faced with reality that the world awareness of the Circassian Genocide and its continuity is very limited. But the saddest fact is that the largest segment of Circassians in diaspora and motherland are still unaware also of the tragedy ensued their nation. The worst part of this unawareness is the catastrophic future consequences of the Genocide and its continuity on all Circassians. Especially among the majority of the Circassians who are u till today very attached, proud and protective of their Circassian identity.
Today the focal point of The Awareness and Unawareness of the Russian Genocide and its continuity against Circassia and Circassians by the world will be Sochi.
Sochi today is a tranquil small resort city on the black sea with a unique weather and location .Historically it was a natural port which was used by its Circassian natives as a trading post with ships and boats coming from different parts of the Caucasus coastline. At the end of the Russian war and Genocide against Circassians, Sochi and its surrounding areas was designated by the Russians as one the concentration and forced exile places of the Circassian nation.
Russians had turned this tranquil place into the stage of one of the worst human tragedies ever in the history of Europe and humanity that every aspect of human suffering and crimes against human beings and humanity took place. All, very well, documented by the Russians themselves through their military personnel witnessing and reporting the events taking place.
President Putin, not recognizing and Circassians, or our history, neither our Genocide nor Sochi relation to us, pulled many strings and much weight to win the bid with International Olympics Committee for holding the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
Many experts have remarked quietly that ,as soon as, Mr. Putin secured the planned 2014 bid to host the Winter Olympics, he has offered Circassians and the Genocide inadvertently an invaluable opportunity to be known and recognized by the world! The project is a perfect global podium for us to voice out the awareness of our tragedy after decades of being voiceless European people enduring 147 years of a hidden Genocide.
Contrary to all Russian false claims and fabrications of historical facts recently, Sochi is a Circassian (Woubikh) word means “toward the sea”. The Woubikh tribe is part our Circassian nation ,referring to themselves by the designation Adyga just like all other Circassians .And they refer to their land including Sochi by Adyga land(Circassia). Few kilometers away from Sochi shore ,a group of Circassian tribes chiefs, built a house which was designated and served as their Parliament building. Having a parliament in Sochi will certainly make it the historical first and last capital of Circassia.
Towards the end of the Russian war against Circassians, Sochi beaches and surrounding areas had become sites of mass murders and unthinkable human tragedies. Hundreds of thousands of Circassian men women and children forced in unsheltered concentration camps. They were subjected to killing, torture, humiliation, rape, starvation and wide spread diseases. The ones who survived were forced on crammed boats and many of them were thrown overboard as they developed motion sickness for not being used to be on boats.
The planned Sochi Olympics project of President Putin has turned out and will continue to be one of the worst known scams in the history of Russian corruption. It has been nothing except total environmental disaster with pollution, landslides, destruction of protected forest sites and destruction of rare and endangered birds and animal species.
The project management itself has so far been a spectacle of failures and a series of deadline violations caused by corruption and covered up by payoffs.
The Circassian present and future perspective is to increase awareness and knowledge of the Genocide. Rallying more Circassians to stand against the Sochi Olympics and behind the true future Circassian national cause. Organizing Motherland and Diaspora Circassians to set solid Circassian national objective and work relentlessly and peacefully in nonviolent ways to overcome obstacles in achieving our objectives. And, get other nations to recognize our Genocide and possibly boycott the Sochi Olympics Games.
By July 2014 regardless of where the winter Olympics will be held, the world, the Russians people and all unaware Circassians will know that the true meaning of the terminology “Muhajeer” is the Circassian genocide Victims. This will be the commencement of The International Circassian Movement to build a free nation in our Circassia.
