Demanding Recognition of Material and Intangible Losses Resulting from the Circassian Genocide
Adel Bashqawi
October 22, 2025
In light of the recent PACE Conference held in Warsaw, Poland, Ukrainian Member of Parliament Maria Mezentseva addressed the assembly on the need to confront Russia’s colonial crimes over the years. Her remarks were framed within a proposed resolution titled “Russian Democratic Forces and the Potential Creation of Their Platform in PACE.” [1]
She delivered an important message to the peoples and nations who have been victims of Russian occupation, extermination, and its ongoing repercussions. Among those most severely affected are Circassia and other nations of the North Caucasus, which remain under direct Russian control. These nations have received neither apology nor compensation for the extensive damages they have endured. Mezentseva introduced logical and effective proposals for acknowledging historical injustices and establishing mechanisms for claims and redress—organized under 13 categories of material and intangible losses.
The Circassian people are among the victims of genocide and forced deportation. In the 19th century, following the Russian-Circassian War, the Russian Empire carried out a systematic campaign of extermination that killed half the population. The majority of survivors were subjected to ethnic cleansing and mass deportation. As a result, over 90% of the Circassian population was forcibly exiled, and Circassia’s indigenous homeland was occupied. Today, more than seven million Circassians live in exile across over 30 countries, while only a small fraction—approximately 10%—remain in fragmented, non-contiguous administrative regions of the North Caucasus under Russian control.
This genocide and its enduring consequences have inflicted profound material and intangible losses, including:
- Loss of homeland and property
- Destruction of cultural institutions and historical archives
- Suppression of language, identity, and indigenous governance
- Psychological trauma and generational displacement
- Denial of the right to return and self-determination
The Circassian nation, like other nations of the North Caucasus and beyond, continues to suffer from the absence of international recognition, the lack of reparative justice, and the ongoing erasure of its historical narrative. Circassians therefore seek acknowledgment and redress under the framework outlined by this Website diia.gov.ua, [2] and call for:
- Recognition of the Circassian genocide and its legal consequences
- Restoration of Circassian legitimate rights, including cultural autonomy, historical justice, and the right to return, in accordance with international laws and norms
- Inclusion of Circassia among the nations eligible for reparations and restitution
- Support for initiatives that preserve Circassian heritage, language, and historical memory
The Circassian nation stands in solidarity with all peoples who have endured systemic violence and displacement. They believe that justice for Circassia is integral to the broader pursuit of human rights and historical accountability.
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References
[1] https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPYrMR3jDqt/?igsh=dzAxZjhuNjQzZWd3
[2] https://diia.gov.ua/
