Failing the Cause: The Controversial Role of the International Circassian Association
Adel Bashqawi
January 15, 2025
Without hesitation and with full conviction, the Circassian nation extends its sincere thanks and gratitude to the Ukrainian Parliament for taking the remarkable humanitarian step of recognizing the Circassian Genocide. The effects and repercussions of this atrocity persist to this day.
On January 9, 2025, the Ukrainian Parliament passed Draft Resolution No. 11347, recognizing the genocide of the Circassian (Cherkese) people committed by the Russian Empire. The resolution expressed solidarity with the Circassian people and honored the memory of the victims of this crime. It acknowledged the mass destruction, violent exile, and significant losses suffered by Circassian society and advocated for the right to repatriation and self-determination. The resolution also called upon other countries and organizations to recognize these crimes as “genocide,” and to condemn Russian propaganda efforts to distort historical facts. It concluded with the powerful statement: “Destruction of empires is the way to freedom of nations.” [1]
In contrast, the International Circassian Association (ICA) and its executives have embarrassed themselves by failing to confront the growing awareness of a cause they seem intent on suppressing—a cause critical to the nation from which they claim descent. Instead, they have taken on the role of managing propaganda in the wake of the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada’s recognition of the Circassian Genocide. Their actions appear to prioritize the interests of Russia, a state that continues to maintain its colonial mentality and disregard the rightful claims of the Circassian people.
This stubborn and arrogant stance, ignoring the rights of dozens of peoples and nations, has ironically paved the way for others to step in. Countries like Ukraine, which have experienced their own struggles under Russian imperialism, have acknowledged the crimes of the Russian Empire, the repercussions of which remain evident. The Circassian nation, displaced and deported between homeland and diaspora, stands as a poignant symbol of these unresolved injustices.
It is not a choice but an imperative to remind those who serve occupiers, rather than advocating for the rightful owners of the land, of their moral failure. Ukraine’s recognition of the ongoing tragedies affecting the Circassian nation is a significant step forward. The genocide and its repercussions remain central to the claim for Circassian rights and justice.
Regrettably, the ICA leadership, including its president and eight signatories, refuses to hold the colonial state they serve accountable. Russia, the state they defend, has consistently refused to recognize the genocide committed against Circassia. Instead, it erased Circassia from the regional map. [2]
It is worth noting that Circassian republics in the North Caucasus have recognized the genocide and its consequences. These republics have demanded that Moscow acknowledge these crimes, but their pleas have been ignored. [3]
In this context, the Russian state’s policy of diminishing the importance of its subject peoples must be highlighted. The 2020 amendments to the Russian constitution enshrined the status of the Russian language as that of a “state-forming nation.” This change weakened the status of national languages, a move endorsed by the president of the ICA. [4]
The ICA’s claim to represent a Circassian association established in Europe after the Soviet Union’s collapse is hollow. While it was purportedly founded to preserve national cohesion across the diaspora and homeland and to demand the restoration of Circassian rights, the reality tells a different story. Over time, a group of executives infiltrated and exploited its leadership, stripping the organization of its founding purpose. The ICA became a shell, reduced to handling social and cultural matters, while neglecting its core duty to address the consequences of occupation, genocide, and displacement. Its relocation to Nalchik cemented its role as an entity under Russian control.
The legitimate rights of the afflicted Circassian nation are disregarded by those who publicly posture yet are marked by spiritual blindness and a lack of true conviction. The leadership of the ICA has failed to align itself with honest and courageous nations that champion truth and justice. These nations boldly identify the perpetrators of historical atrocities—in this case, Russia, the successor to the crimes of its imperial predecessors.
“A leopard doesn’t change its spots.” This timeless proverb serves as a fitting reminder of Russia’s unchanged policies of denial and oppression.
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References:
[2] https://t.me/duneipsoadyge/1693
[3] https://justicefornorthcaucasus.info/?p=1251673262
[4] https://cris.mruni.eu/server/api/core/bitstreams/98b383ec-6b47-4916-a416-db818cca1330/content
