The Circassians found themselves in an unenviable position since the majority of them were forced to leave their homeland forcibly, following the end of the Russian – Circassian War on the 21st of May, 1864,
and during which the Russian Empire has implemented its colonial policies of terrorism, genocide and ethnic cleansing in particular in all the Circassian territories overlooking the Black Sea, gathering all those who survived to be forced to leave their places of residence either to areas beyond the Kuban River or to the Ottoman Empire, for the sake of establishing government-sponsored settlements for resettling strangers of Russians and mercenaries who contributed to the military operations, occupation and destruction of the Circassian homeland.
Circassians have never accepted the language of force and the fait accompli policy; on the contrary of what Russians wanted to impose on them, they kept with them their dignity, freedom, concerns and aspirations, being denied of their homeland, they watched the demise of the Romanov family alongside their evil Russian empire, they observed the establishment of the Soviet Union with all its brutal and savage practices including the “iron curtain”, then its disintegration 70 years later, in the early nineties of the past century, to witness the emanation of the Russian Federation with no Russian officials are ready to recognize the plight of the Circassian nation and restoring the Circassian confiscated rights.
Founding and Functions
From the 70’s of the twentieth century, with the start of the disintegration of the Soviet Union in the 80’s, Circassian nationalists both at homeland and in Diaspora have worked for establishing a common entity aimed to address the Circassian Question. In the North Caucasus it started in culture and history fields by establishing “Ashemez”, developed to “Khase”, then kept a window-open to seek discussing other aspects such as: “native language, the return of the Diaspora, true aspects of the Caucasian Wars, and culture sustainability” (http://justicefornorthcaucasus.info/?p=1251661885).
As of direct result of ICA objectives, Circassians took into consideration to “adopt a unified Circassian alphabet and literary language, the usage of native language in education and official matters, the recognition of the Circassian Genocide and Circassians’ deportation by the Russian Empire with the assistance of international organizations, obtaining the right of dual citizenship, and establishing an independent Circassian radio, television and a satellite channel service”.
The lifespan of the International Circassian Association (ICA), since its establishment until now, shows the following operational phases:
— Founding and establishing the association in addition to approval of the agenda of Circassian national principles & objectives.
— Working for a relatively short period of time, in line of duty and the implementation of programs of tasks according to priorities, taking into account lack of confidentiality due to information leakage especially when addressing significant Circassian national issues.
— Recruiting and installing staff with Russian governmental background contributed for the purpose of hijacking and then absorption of the association and to dictate its operations by transferring its center and central management from Diaspora to Nalchik, the capital city of the Republic of Kabbardino – Balkaria, where they eventually imposed the reality of controlling the administration to steer all functions through repudiating the real Circassian demands.
— Since the change that took place in the leadership and management of the International Circassian Association, it embarked on a path parallel and identical to what Russian policies have dictated by refusing to listen to the fair Circassian demands, calling for the restoration of the Circassian rights.
The Fact of Indifference in the Circassian Situation
The following list leads to realistic evaluation that is intended to be objective; but unforgivable improvisational steps taken against the supreme Circassian national interests:
— Unclear and vague procedures followed in all the associations’ proceedings, which affected the association’s elections, method of conducting the elections and appointing members and functionaries.
— In September of 2007, the ICA was part of a farce celebration of 450 years of so-called voluntary association with Russia, an event that has never taken place. It was intended “to mislead, misinform, deceive, and cheat the general public, the international community and even the victims themselves!” (http://www.justicefornorthcaucasus.com/eagle_combo/documents/eagle.php?entry_id=1158227100). Some ICA members in the North Caucasus and in Diaspora played the godfather roll of the Russian authorities’ festivities linked to the false celebrations. Some travelled to the North Caucasus and some others sent letters of congratulations to both the Russian authorities and the local Circassian republics’ leaders.
— When the Circassian activists and organizations in the three Circassian republics in the North Caucasus have called for uniting Circassians in a unified Circassian republic, the ICA officials and their supporters have stood against even thinking in this matter (http://windowoneurasia.blogspot.com/2009/05/window-on-eurasia-circassians-reaffirm.html).
— Even though, the ICA has failed big time to convince it’s Russian allies to help the Circassians of Syria in anyway possible, for exiting the Syrian war zone; and on the contrary to this demand, the Russian embassies and consulates in response to the Russian government’s instructions, have stopped granting permission to Circassians of Syria to return to their original homeland.
— Ironically, the “President of the Union of Veterans of Abkhazia” sent a criticizing letter to the ICA, which stated: “neither the President of the International Circassian Association, Khauti Sokhrokov, nor the ICA, nor any other Circassian Association are entitled to deny the genocide of the Circassian people”. The letter confirmed that Sokhrokov “does not consider that the killing of the Circassian people is a crime”. The letter added: “Information was received that he sent a letter to the Parliament of Georgia on his behalf and on behalf of the International Circassian Association requesting from the Georgian Parliament to cancel its decision of recognizing the Circassian Genocide”, even though “he is not authorized” to do so (http://www.natpressru.info/index.php?newsid=8108).
— Referring to the previous paragraph, the former ICA President, Kanshobi Azhakhov, had sent a letter by fax to the Circassian Conference held in Tbilisi, in March, 2010, showing desire of becoming part of consultations, in a way trying to relay a typical sadist message in order to suit ICA policies based on ignoring and contradicting the real interests of the Circassian nation, and trying to impose certain tactics thinking that all Circassians are ruled by those who accepted the duty of implementing of clumsy policies, seemingly in an attempt to steer the conference to the wrong direction (http://justicefornorthcaucasus.info/?p=1251676013).
— “Bureaucratic elite” members of the International Circassian Association has joined whether intentionally or unintentionally a Russian propaganda campaign against its own nation, considered and still considering any criticism to its way of handling the Circassian issues and/or demanding from the Russian government to solve the Circassian matters, which are Russia’s own doings, as an interference with the internal Russian affairs and/or so-called “a Western conspiracy behind it” (http://www.natpress.info/index.php?newsid=8892), which is contrary to the ICA title and principles. The vast majority of Circassians both in Diaspora and in homeland know where the answer of their agony is.
— It’s worth mentioning that some Circassian contractors who are linked to some Circassian organizations in Turkey and consequently with ICA were involved in building some constructions in Sochi in preparation for 2014 Winter Olympic Games (http://justicefornorthcaucasus.info/?p=1251675380 35th paragraph).
— In December 2013, ICA [resident Sokhrokov was planing to travel to London to encounter the Circassian activists’ activities to boycott the Sochi Winter Olympics, but eventually he didn’t because he couldn’t obtain a British visa; but “his intention of helping the Russian government to suppress the Circassian subject in marked contrast to the majority of Circassian activists, who sought to make their plight known to the general public (Aheku.net, December 11, 2013)”. In a related context, the ICA was in favor of accepting the idea of holding a project called “Circassiada” (http://www.circassiada.com/), thought to be a sporting project aimed to make Circassian communities gather in the year 2012, almost two years ahead of 2014 Sochi Olympic Games as a bridge to make Circassians accept the fact of Sochi Olympics, but the widely rejected idea prevented holding such project after an active campaign by the promoters of the project in several locations including Diaspora (http://www.justicefornorthcaucasus.com/jfnc_message_boards/conferences.php?entry_id=1271198474).
— Cooperation with the Russian authorities to invite some Circassian associates from Diaspora and homeland to visit the site of Sochi Olympic Games’ facilities construction site before the games took place ignoring the fact of arresting Circassian activists in their homeland in the North Caucasus (http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/2/17/russia-detains-circassianleaderprotestingsochiolympics.html) and (http://www.refworld.org/docid/52cfed024.html); but it is fair to say that two Circassians from Kfar Kama have left the tour when they knew that the tour organizers’ intention was to take the group to Sochi. Some of those associates were also re-invited to attend on the 7th of February, 2014, the opening ceremonies of 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games, and other events connected with the games in a stubborn attempt to challenge the Circassian national sentiment, but in all cases they do not represent the Circassian Diaspora (http://eng.kavkaz-uzel.ru/articles/27210/#.UwFYJCLXNKo.facebook).
— Ignoring the Russian authorities’ deliberate indifference about the challenge taken by the Russian authorities when dealing unjustifiably at airports and government centers (http://zapravakbr.ru/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=509:2013-07-19-10-08-33&catid=4:doc&Itemid=6) with visiting Diaspora Circassians who are members of organizations considered part of the ICA.
— The reference mentioned in the 3rd paragraph (http://justicefornorthcaucasus.info/?p=1251661885) says: “Russia still treats them as ‘blackheads’. Last year, Cihan CANDEMIR – the Chairman of Kaf-Fed which combines 56 associations and represents Turkey at ICA – had been kept waiting in airport and two days later deported. Also, the Deputy Chairman of ICA Orhan OZMEN had met with a refusal for entry on the border. Yet, Cengiz GUL – the delegate of ICA and a businessman – was remanded from Rostov on Don Airport.”
— The unpleased majority Circassian Diaspora organizations with the ICA performance, have created the conditions of change of the ICA. Controversies made KAFFED (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkJ9QT2kDSg), the largest Circassian organization in Turkey to think to withdraw from ICA (http://aheku.net/news/policy/5892).
— Asker Sokht, the Krasnodar “Circassian Khase”, said that in recent years, the Krasnodar regional organization “Adyghe Khase” did not participate in the activities of the ICA, and added that ICA should prepare for a meeting, which involves different Circassian organizations for a dialogue, but complained about the refusal of the association to agree on such an idea (http://www.kavkaz-uzel.ru/articles/264918/).
Conclusion
Recent events indicate a vacuum in the administration’s structure of the ICA, and gives an idea of a one-man-show pattern performed by the higher management of the ICA, particularly the head of the ICA, which has highlighted the issues were dealt with according to Russian policies’ requirements; but a significant part of the bases and lower ranks do not agree on the denial of the Circassian nation’s common interests and aspirations.
In 22, June, 2015, Adam Bogus, the vice president of the International Circassian Association, “announced that he was suspending his membership in the organization until its next leadership elections, and “‘Adyghe Khase’ of Adygeya has suspended participation in the International Circassian Association” (http://www.natpressru.info/index.php?newsid=9692). Bogus, who is from the Republic of Adygea, also refused to take part in an ICA conference that was held on June, 12”. According to Bogus, also Khakuz Adam, a member of the ICA executive committee from the Republic of Adygea, has suspended his membership in the ICA. “Both Circassian leaders cited their disagreement with the policies of the organization’s president, Khauti Sokhrokov, as the reason for their demarche” (http://www.jamestown.org/regions/thecaucasus/single/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=44131&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=54&cHash=4db9d6027c62b4827ae921f7accf2127#.VaB7hpOqqkp).
Delegates of the “Adyge-Khase” of the Republic of Karachaevo-Cherkessia met on the 27th of June, 2015, to discuss “state authorities’ inaction in addressing Circassians’ problems”, and they “decided to convene an extraordinary congress for the Circassian people” (http://eng.kavkaz-uzel.ru/articles/32192/).
The Circassian identity and unity should be strengthened and fortified instead of the confusion that leads to directing Diaspora associations toward assimilation and stagnation. “A wise man had classified men as five types:
The first type serves his homeland by money, the second type by work, the third by his pen, the fourth with his life, and the fifth by silence. All of them would betray their homeland if they fail to do what they must do towards their homeland at the proper time.”