Sochi Is Part of Circassia
Adel Bashqawi
June 18, 2010
It is shortsighted to promote ideas and commentary that mislead those seeking knowledge and meaningful insight—drifting them toward contradiction and one-sided thinking. This inevitably leads to “one-way communication,” deepens disagreement, and reinforces narratives presented as unquestionable facts, without regard for the human obligation to convey content with logic, consistency, and integrity. Such distortions only echo the many betrayals suffered by the Circassian nation, reminding us of the saying: “If you have been betrayed from behind the scenes, then you should be proud—because you are the only one who is in front.”
Human habitation along the Black Sea coast dates back to the earliest chapters of recorded history. Many civilizations once flourished there, most of which have since vanished. Yet the Circassians, despite the disasters that threatened their very existence, remain. Today, only about 10% of Circassians still live in their ancestral homeland; the rest are dispersed across the globe.
It is true that ancient nations such as the Greeks and Romans established colonies along the Black Sea coast—primarily for trade and to secure routes for military campaigns beyond the Caucasus. However, their presence was temporary and did not endure.
The Circassians have lived in the northwestern Caucasus for thousands of years. By the Middle Ages, their society had evolved into a confederation of twelve tribes. Tragically, several of these tribes were exterminated in the 18th and 19th centuries due to mass atrocities committed by the expansionist Tsarist Russian Empire. The Russian–Circassian (Caucasian) Wars spanned approximately 450 years, culminating in a final, brutal campaign that lasted 101 years and ended on May 21, 1864, with the complete occupation of Circassia. As the proverb teaches: “The eye that does not know the meaning of tears does not know anything of value.” And from bitter experience, the Circassians learned: “The panic from a catastrophe is another catastrophe.”
As the saying goes, “He whose ambition is great, so are his worries.” Despite all that has been inflicted upon the Circassian nation, it continues to endure—preserving a rich culture and deep human values. Many other civilizations that once flourished—such as the ancient Egyptians, Persians, Romans, the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires, and even the Tsarist Russian Empire followed by the Soviet Union—have since disappeared.
The Russian Tsars, princes, and military commanders were all complicit in war crimes. Among them was the notorious General Grigory Khristoforovich Zass, who satisfied his thirst for vengeance by beheading Circassians and storing their skulls beneath his bed—an act that borders on cannibalism. Others include Prince Grigory Potemkin (Russia’s first viceroy of the Caucasus in 1785), General Alexander Suvorov, General Pavel Tsitsianov, General Glazenap, General Bulgakov, General Aleksey Yermolov, General Delposto, General Stal, Grand Duke Mikhail Romanov (Commander of the Caucasian Army), Admiral Mikhail Petrovich Lazarev, and hundreds of others of high and low rank.
Honest and devoted Circassians—those whose hands are clean of treason and collaboration with occupiers or foreign conspirators—must reject any attempt to normalize the consequences of the Circassian Catastrophe. This includes rejecting the global “acceptance of the status quo” that encourages assimilation and forgetfulness of homeland and rights. One such affront was the decision to host the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games on the very site of genocide and forced deportation—where the Circassian nation was nearly annihilated during the 101-year war that ended on May 21, 1864.
All dedicated Circassians are urged to act—with financial resources, writing, advocacy, and every available means. Inaction is betrayal. The secret to success lies in confronting crises, not ignoring, delaying, or evading them.
Indian leader Jawaharlal Nehru once said:
“Our duty as leaders is to engender in people a spirit of hope and optimism. The vulnerable and oppressed will not prevail as long as they remain miserable and pessimistic. But this cannot happen unless leaders lead from the front—with courage, sacrifice, and bravery.”
Another philosopher echoed a long-standing Circassian principle:
“People feel small in the presence of great personalities, but the greatest is the one who makes everyone around him feel great.”
It is better to be a member of the lions’ group than a leader of ostriches.
