Circassian Destiny: To Remind Those Whose Memory Has Betrayed (5)

Circassian Destiny: To Remind Those Whose Memory Has Betrayed (5)

Adel Bashqawi
November 4, 2024

This is the fifth and final article in a series regarding the title above.

Rattibha

Preliminary

This concluding article in the series highlights key points from the main discussion. Colonial conspiracies and the Treaty of Adrianople (Edirne) provide a historical context that reflects decades of consequential events. Circumstances took a disastrous and irreparable course.

The Ottoman Empire’s ceding of the Caucasus coast, including Circassia, to the Russian Empire was shocking—a bombshell and a shameful act. Circassian leaders saw it as reckless and immoral. “He who does not own has ceded to he who does not deserve.” This was followed by Russia’s siege of the Circassian coast on the Black Sea. The Russian military campaigns of genocide, which began in 1763, intensified as they continued to occupy and annex Circassia. Demographic manipulation and cultural suppression were disastrous. Russia has denied its wrongdoings and falsified history. Recognizing the genocide is essential for acknowledging the crimes and restoring legitimate rights.

Rattibha

Memoirs, Testimonies, and Eyewitness Accounts

— Many memoirs, narratives, official and personal documents authenticate the suffering of Circassian civilians, particularly women, children, and the elderly, who were unable to defend themselves, their homes, and properties.

• Evidence, such as eyewitness accounts, images, and testimonies, is cited in “Reports and Testimonies about the Russian–Circassian War and Circassian Genocide.” This includes memoirs and statements, sometimes even hostile, from Russian figures.

• Expressions of anger and outrage against the Queen of England by the Russian regional government in the Caucasus were published in the Free Press, Journal of the Foreign Affairs Committees on June 3, 1863.

• A “Letter from Circassians to David Urquhart” was published in The Free Press, Journal of the Foreign Affairs Committees on December 2, 1863.

• A “Summary of Intelligence” received during the first week of July 1864 at the Board of Health Office highlighted the deportation of Circassians to Ottoman ports and the miserable conditions of the displaced. [1][2]

— Rights, like facts, cannot be hidden, denied, or overlooked, no matter how long. The outsider remains an outsider, and the authentic remains authentic, despite all challenges.

• Comparisons can be made between the Circassian genocide and other atrocities. “Genocides serve as sobering reminders of humanity’s darkest chapters, and genocide studies are key to preventing future atrocities. Exploring the Circassian and Armenian cases allows us to remember and recognize suffering. If we forget events related to Circassians in Russia, we lose valuable lessons for moving forward and protecting at-risk populations.” [3]

• In the modern era, similar evil forces and their sponsors have repeated such actions. “While conducting military operations and overseeing the occupation of Circassian territory, General Yevdokimov explicitly called for the ethnic cleansing of the Circassian people—130 years before the Western media used a similar term during the Bosnian War. Yevdokimov’s concern was little more than the removal of a pestilence. The disaster encompassed forced marches, crop burnings, massacres, and the loss of cultural and linguistic heritage, thus meeting the UN criteria for genocide.” [4]

— In a realistic depiction of events in 1864, reports describe Russian generals’ efforts to implement demographic changes by forcibly transferring surviving Circassians out of their homeland. They sought to erase the indigenous population. “Following the Circassian evacuation, Russian authorities began surveying and dividing the land. They offered land and privileges to Azov Cossacks willing to settle there, encouraging a population of Orthodox Russians and seafarers. Government employees serving 10 years in the Caucasus could also claim land. Once the Caucasus was subdued, orders allowed all Circassians to emigrate to Turkey. This inhumane expulsion began in spring 1864, as Russian agents at Circassian ports prioritized their own interests over those of the Circassians. Ships, often overcrowded and unsanitary, caused famine, dirt, and fever among passengers.” [5][6]

— The book The Northwest Caucasus: Past, Present, Future (2008), by Walter Richmond, includes a meaningful inscription from a memorial stone in Adygeisk, Republic of Adygea, a small part of Circassia: “Remember the past, live in the present, think of the future.” [7]

Cultural Narratives

— Russian colonialism aimed to seize all aspects of Circassian life. Their ambitions even extended to appropriating Circassian attire. Russian Emperor Nicholas II and his family posed wearing the distinctive Circassian costume, signaling an attempt to co-opt Circassian identity along with their land. [8]

The Georgian public has historically respected and admired Circassians, as reflected in Georgian literature and journalism of the late 19th century and the works of Georgian authors such as Grigol Orbeliani, Alexandre Kazbegi, and Vazha-Pshavela. [9]

— Russian academics and politicians have repeatedly denied or distorted the facts of military policies that led to invasion, genocide, and forced displacement, showing little regard for truth. For example, in 2012, a workshop in Rostov discussed the “Circassian Question,” accusing external actors of politicizing Circassian suffering ahead of the Sochi Olympics. Edward Popov of the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies argued that international Circassian communities were simply using the issue to discredit Russia. [10]

— A writer and genocide scholar concluded that “Russia pursued policies that threatened Circassian lives, and once the consequences became clear, they did not change course. Unfortunately, the genocide was too far removed from European interests to attract attention. Britain’s interest lay in Central Asia rather than Circassia, so the Circassian tragedy was forgotten until the 2014 Sochi Olympics revived attention.” [11]

— Russia continues to damage Circassian cultural heritage, even desecrating cemeteries and artifacts. Adam Bogus, a Circassian leader in Maykop, reported that Russian Olympic organizers denied requests to preserve battle sites at Krasnaya Polyana or to create a museum for unearthed artifacts, resulting in widespread desecration during construction. [12]

— Former European Parliament Member Tunne Kelam noted that the Circassian diaspora’s appeal to the European Parliament deserves support. “Since the 18th century, more than 1.5 million Circassians were killed, and Russian colonial policies continue to impact Circassians today.” [13]

— Efforts to preserve Circassian identity remain strong. Although coverage of Circassians has diminished, Circassian awareness endures through national consciousness and commemorative events, not due to Western influence, but because of ongoing Russian oppression in the Caucasus. Celebrations like the Circassian Flag Day in Adygeya, Kabardino-Balkaria, and Karachayevo-Cherkessia highlight the enduring cultural pride and resistance. [14]

— Music is central to Circassian identity, celebrated in public and private ceremonies. Circassian music, known for its dance rhythms, carries traditions and folk arts, with some tunes dating back to the 4th century AD. Soviet collections of Circassian music in the 1970s preserved this rich heritage, and today, Circassian music endures as an indispensable cultural legacy. [15]

— Dance also has a special place in Circassian culture, initially serving as a religious rite before becoming a form of festive celebration. All Circassian dances are based on folklore, characterized by graceful women’s movements and dynamic male performances. Dance retains a prominent role, symbolizing resilience and connection to Circassian roots. [16]

— Performing coordinated body movements that are expressive, performed individually, in pairs, or in groups, in harmony with music and melodies from musical instruments, highlights traditional, folkloric, or theatrical dances. These dances reflect the authenticity and civilization of a nation, shaped by its culture, environment, customs, and traditions dating back to ancient times. “Dancing has always held a special place in the lives of the Circassians. In mythical times, the Narts held annual festivals and tournaments featuring dances. No public or family festivity was complete without a round or more of dancing, which also kept the male dancers in peak shape, thanks to the energetic tunes.”*

Today, it remains the most popular form of folk art. Dance initially served as a religious rite, a type of spirited prayer. Later, it transformed into a festive celebration, retaining some ritual significance. Only recently has it become a pastime devoid of religious meaning. All dances are rooted in the rich traditions of Circassian folklore. Other groups, like the Cossacks, Georgians, and various Caucasians, adopted many Circassian dance forms and melodies. Generally, women’s movements were graceful and restrained, avoiding wild gestures.” [17]

— John Colarusso is a leading scholar and authority on the languages and cultures of various Caucasus peoples and nations, including Circassia. His studies, research, and writings delve into the heritage of Circassia, including the Nart epics, myths, and legends. “He described the Circassian coast as a rolling land with distant mountains. To the east lies the Abkhazian coast, with hills and mountains sloping down to the beach, occasionally dipping into the sea. This stretch of shoreline might well be the one on which Jason and his Argonauts are said to have landed three millennia earlier. Back then, these shores marked the watery boundaries of two nations, Circassia and Abkhazia, with the land of the Ubykh in between, allied with both. In Circassia, travelers would have encountered tribes structured by clan lineages and allegiances, all of whom identified as Adyghey, including the small Ubykh tribe.” [18]

Colarusso remarks: “The Nart sagas, unlike traditional sagas of prominent lives, are akin to the myths of pagan Norse and Ancient Greece. Bards, male and female, rendered them through song, verse, and prose. While the characters’ exploits resemble the bravura of gods, only a few retain deity status. In this sense, they are one step removed from pure myth, yet starting with Shora Begmurzin Nogma’s account (Bergé, 1866), the term ‘saga’ has dominated. These sagas are fascinating as they attest to the civilization of a lost world and parallel the traditions of ancient peoples in contact with the North Caucasus.” [19]

Global Awareness and Engineering a Falsified History

Following the occupation and annexation of Circassia, rather than safeguarding ethnic identity and fostering inter-ethnic peace, the invaders undermined these identities, looted indigenous settlements, and seized valuables in ruthless raids, exacerbating inter-ethnic tensions.

Circassians across the diaspora have gained access to documented accounts and irrefutable facts regarding their past and present, as well as the ongoing repressive Russian measures. This awareness motivates them to work tirelessly to reshape the present and explore future prospects.

“It is well-known that Russian Constitutional articles, frequently revised, aim to erode the languages and cultures of multiple ethnicities under Russian control, seeking to assimilate them into Russian culture. Amendments serve only the interests of the Russian majority, aligning with state policies.” [20]

The plight of the Circassian people—an ancient South-eastern European nation in the North Caucasus subjected to Russian invasion, genocide, and cultural destruction—is largely unknown. The Russian Empire’s conquests resulted in the elimination of half the population and the forced deportation of 90% of the survivors, mainly through the Port of Sochi to the Ottoman Empire across the Black Sea. Today, the descendants of these exiles live mostly in Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Israel, the United States, and more than 30 other countries.

“Dr. Richmond outlines three misconceptions that led Russia into a prolonged, devastating war: first, assuming that the West Circassians were Ottoman subjects; second, failing to grasp the fluid alliances among regional tribes; and third, pursuing imperial ambitions without understanding the region’s culture or history. Notably, these misconceptions continue to shape Kremlin policy, even in recent conflicts.” [21]

It is impossible to catalog all transgressions, violations, and repercussions of the Russian Empire. These acts—unwillingness to accept Circassian resistance and making their homeland vulnerable to looting—illustrate a refusal to surrender.

Diaspora communities face challenges from individuals acting against the broader Circassian cause, opportunists who exploit situations, often to the detriment of the community’s goals.

International Perspective and Global Awareness

— The Circassian struggle has compelled activists worldwide to engage with regional, European, and global audiences. They work to address and discuss Circassian rights, seeking to restore these rights despite obstacles.

— The extent of Russian imperial violations is too great to list. But their effects are clear: they imposed subjugation while Circassians continually rejected it, refusing to make their homeland an easy prey for the invaders.

— Through personal efforts, Circassians have advocated their cause in countries with Circassian communities, the European Parliament, and other forums. They have presented evidence and publications supporting their demands.

Comparative Analysis

International laws and norms should address the Circassian Genocide, per Article II of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (UN, 1948).

The Circassian experience invites comparison with other cases of invasion, occupation, ethnic cleansing, genocide, and deportation. Russia’s methods have remained consistent over centuries, evolving into a larger imperialist agenda. With recent attempts to occupy Ukraine, the resilience shown by Ukraine serves as a powerful example, offering a path forward for Circassia and other nations.

Final Word

The purpose of these articles is to document and highlight the Circassian Genocide, illuminating the hatred, aggression, and greed that fueled a devastating war against the Circassian people—a tragedy that lasted over a century. Few are aware of the hardships and atrocities faced by the Circassian nation in its prolonged defense against invasion, striving to preserve its identity, homeland, and future.

Despite changing regimes over the years, no agreement has been reached on these longstanding disputes, and true peace remains elusive. However, it is crucial for the oppressive colonial state to reconsider its policies and honor the rights of indigenous peoples.

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References:

[1] https://justicefornorthcaucasus.info/?p=1239745800

[2] https://www.justicefornorthcaucasus.com/jfnc_message_boards/genocide_crime.php?entry_id=1239771000&title=heku.ru%3A-the-reports-and-the-testimonies-about-russian—circassian-war-and-the-circassian-genocide

[3] https://ausisjournal.com/2023/12/06/the-circassian-genocide-the-forgotten-tragedy-of-the-first-modern-genocide/#_edn47

[4] https://ausisjournal.com/2023/12/06/the-circassian-genocide-the-forgotten-tragedy-of-the-first-modern-genocide/#_edn47

[5] (IMMIGRATION AND SETTLEMENT OF CIRCASSIANS IN THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE ON BRITISH DOCUMENTS 1857-1864, Dr. Musa ŞAŞMAZ p. 342)

[6] https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/114262

[7] https://justicefornorthcaucasus.info/?p=1235562900

[8] https://justicefornorthcaucasus.info/?p=1251677754

[9] https://justicefornorthcaucasus.info/?p=1251662239

[10] https://justicefornorthcaucasus.info/?p=1251662272

[11] https://www.historynewsnetwork.org/article/russias-forgotten-genocide

[12] https://www.cnn.com/2014/02/18/world/russia-sochi-circassians/

[13] https://justicefornorthcaucasus.info/?p=1251675142

[14] http://windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2016/05/moscow-not-west-keeping-circassian.html