Circassian activists accross the world sent a requisition to Moldova, on 27.08.2015,it’s independence day, for recognizing the Circassian Genocide perpetrated by the Russian Empire. Application was submitted to Nicolae Timofti, Candu Andrian and Valeriu Strelet who are President of Moldova, President of Moldovan Parliament, and Prime Minister of Moldova respectively.
His Excellency, President of the Republic of Moldova, Nicolae Timofti
His Excellency, President of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova,
Candu Andrian
His Excellency, Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova , Valeriu Streleț
In Re: A Request for Recognizing the Circassian Genocide committed by the Tsarist Russian Empire
In 18th and 19th centuries, genocide against the Circassian (Adygean) people had taken place where significant majority of Circassians were exterminated by the Russian Empire to take over our country, the Circassian (Adygean) homeland. The ones who survived were forced to leave their homeland and were deported and exiled as a whole, and as the Russian Empire planned, hundreds of thousands of people died during the exile process. According to a motto belonged to Russian generals and Russian authorities, the Russian Empire needed “the land that belonged to the Circassians, not the Circassians themselves”.
Exile continued also after 1864 with different excuses and different disguises, all kinds of pressure was implemented to make a handful of Circassians left behind by some means to leave their homeland as well. Relevant documents are in the archives in addition to published documents by eyewitnesses in propria persona.
Today, only one tenth of the Circassian (Adygean) population, around 700,000 people; is living in a piece of land that can be delineated as a small piece of historical Circassia, scattered and divided around. Circassian People, although they are one nation, have been condemned by the Soviet administration and by its successor, the administration of the Russian Federation, to live disconnected from each other, in different political and administrative enclaves, with different names as if they are different nationalities and isolated from each other.
At the present time, and due to the Circassian Genocide and Exile, 90% of the Circassian population has been forced to live outside of their homeland, scattered in more than fifty countries around the world. “Indigenous population’s right to be in contact with its own country” as a basic human right for Circassians in exile is restricted almost as much as nonexistence. The Russian Federation refuses to allow Circassians in exile to return to their Circassian homeland even if it is for urgent humanitarian purposes. The Request of Circassians in Syria who are caught in the fire of the civil unrest between the two sides in ongoing intestine war and still going on through all the pains of the conflict to return to their own homeland due to risk of death is not even taken into consideration by the Russian Federation.
Besides, activists who expressed their thoughts about the “Circassian Problem” through totally democratic, legal and peaceful ways and means have been detained, harassed and have been put under pressure by open and undercover threats. This situation of the issue is still continuing in different forms.
The decisions of The Russian Federation’s units, Kabardino-Balkarian Republic Parliament dated 7, February, 1992 and numbered (№977–XII-B), and the Republic of Adygea Parliament dated 29, April, 1996 and numbered 64-1, have both recognized the Genocide committed against the Circassians, which took place during the Russian-Circassian War that lasted for 101 years and they have condemned it. They also requested from the Russian Federation to recognize the Circassian Genocide.
Georgia, on 20, May, 2011, with the decision reached in its parliament upon the request of the Circassian People, was the first country as a member of the United Nations to recognize the Circassian Genocide.
According to that decision reached by the Georgian Parliament, the Russian Empire, during the war that took place between 1763-1864 years, had also performed Ethnic Cleansing against the Circassians and were replaced by other ethnic group (Russian population) on the Circassian (Adygean) homeland by means of state policy. By embarking into military activities aiming to punish the civilians, it completely annihilated a huge part of the Circassian population according to independent observers. Artificial famine was created and infectious diseases were spread amongst the civilian population.
The Georgian Parliament, in accordance with the Hague Agreement number IV, dated 18, October, 1907, and Prevention and Punishment of Genocide Crime Agreement, dated 1948, announced that the acts committed against Circassians were genocide.
The Circassian (Adygean) civil rights defenders and activists from around the world have applied to the Government of Ukraine on 21/06/2014 to recognize the Circassian Genocide. The Ukrainian Government responded to this application whereupon His Excellency, the President of Ukrainian, Mr. Petro Poroshenko, has instructed the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to investigate the issue. In their brief reply dated 07/07/2014, the representatives of the Ministry expressed the Mr. Poroshenko’s instructions and stated that Congressman Oleg Lyashko has submitted to the Supreme Rada of Ukraine the legislative Proposal No. 4203 for “discussing and recognizing the Circassian Genocide”. The purpose of the proposal is stated to be “initiating a political and legal process regarding recognition of the genocide of the Circassian (Adygean) nation caused by the colonial policy of the Russian Empire between 1763 and 1864, and supporting the process by scientific and historical data”. Said legislative proposal has been renewed with Proposal number 2140, dated 13.02.2015 by MP Mr. Dmytro Volodimirovich in the new legislation session of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. It is being proceeded before the Committees on Human Rights, National Minorities and International Relations.
The administrative units Wayne, Prospect Park and Haledon of New Jersey, USA have recognized the Circassian Genocide on May, 21, 2014, July, 19, 2014 and July, 17, 2014, respectively on concrete grounds.
Another application has been presented on 11.11.2014 to Poland to recognize the Circassian Genocide by Circassian (Adygean) civil rights defenders and activists throughout the world.
Next submission was sent to Lithuania on 11.03.2015 so as to recognize the Circassian Genocide. Upon said application, a response dated 30.03.2015, was sent by the Office of President of the Republic of Lithuania, Mrs. Dalia Grybauskaitė, which indicated that the application was received and transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since said ministry is responsible for the mentioned issue. In this context, a reply was sent by the Office of Prime Minister Mr. Algirdas Butkevičius, it was highlighted that application was transferred to Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius in propria persona.
The latest application was filed to Estonia on 08.05.2015 for recognizing the Circassian Genocide. Estonia Parliament “Riigikogu” thereupon invited Circassian activists and met with them on 04.06.2015. In the meeting, Estonian deputies Hannes Hanso, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu, Eerik-Niiles Kross, Artur Talvik, Jüri Adams, Mart Nutt and Johannes Kert took part (http://www.riigikogu.ee/en/press-releases/others/members-of-the-riigikogu-met-with-the-representatives-of-the-circassian-community/). It is expected that Estonia Parliament “Riigikogu” would recognize the Circassian Genocide.
The Circassian Question is a problem that had occurred as a result of the Circassian Genocide and Exile, and the country that is obligated to solve this problem is the Russian Federation. It became obvious that the Russian Federation, acting with the same arguments as the Russian Empire about the Circassian Problem even in the 21st century, is acting in the same manner in all subjects with its occupation of the Crimea, which is a land located within the territorial integrity of Ukraine and by groundlessly pleading suppression towards Russian speakers living in Eastern Ukraine in reality, aiming to occupy the whole Ukraine and right after by open threatening towards Poland and Eastern Europe. It is well known that the situation of Trans-Dniester is already fallen into the same frame. An old world practice “land-conquest growing by occupation” thought to be an old world way of thinking has been moved to the modern world by the Russian Federation, with furthermore leaving the whole world in astonishment.
The “Circassian Question” is related to “values” as much as” its national and international characters, thus we regard “Circassia” within the "Baltic-Black Sea-Caspian" area. Circassians are in favor of European values pursuant to Borjomi Declaration.
We, the undersigned, respectfully submit our request to Your Excellency, for the recognition of the Circassian Genocide:
1. HAPI CEVDET YILDIZ, BANDIRMA/TURKEY.
2. MAHMUT BI, BURSA/TURKEY.
3. ALMIR ABREG, MAYKOP/CIRCASSIA.
4. KHUADE ADNAN , MAYKOP/CIRCASSIA.
5. ADEL BASHQAWI , AMMAN/JORDAN.
6. ANDZOR AKHOKHOV, NALCHIK/CIRCASSIA
7. UTIJ ABDULLAH TEBER,ISTANBUL/TURKEY
8. MERETIKO KENAN KAPLAN, ISTANBUL/TURKEY
9. PROF.DR. SHURDUM GUNSEL AVCI, ISTANBUL/TURKEY
10. DR. KARDEN MURAT YILDIRIM , ISTANBUL/TURKEY.
11. KUBE NURHAN FIDAN, ISTANBUL/TURKEY.
12. JUDE SAIM SEZGIN, SAMSUN/TURKEY
13. SHOGEN EMINE ARSLANDOK SEZGIN, KAYSERI/ TURKEY
14. SHALAXHO RAGIP METE , SAKARYA/TURKEY.
15. ASSISTANT POFESSOR GUT'E MAHMUT BILGE BASTURK,ESKISEHIR/TURKEY
16. THAMOKUE CIHAT ULUS, KAYSERI/TURKEY
17. HABRACHO MURAT OZDEN ,ISTANBUL/TURKEY
18. HUSHT SEMIH AKGUN, ISTANBUL/TURKEY
19. DR. OMER AYTEK KURMEL ,ISTANBUL/TURKEY.
20. TAMARA BARSIK , DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES.
21. JADE WUMAR DENIZ – SAKARYA/TURKEY.
22. HATKO VURAL BAYRAM , ISTANBUL/TURKEY
23. CUSHA WUMAR, IZMIR/TURKEY.
24. ISHAQ MOLA , AMMAN/JORDAN
25. YESHI MUSTAFA SAADET, ISTANBUL/ TURKEY.
26. BALKAR SELCUK, VAN/TURKEY
27. GINA HABOUKH/UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
28. THATL SACIT TUNC, ISTANBUL/TURKEY.
29. HATX YALCIN KARABULUT, ISTANBUL/TURKEY
30. YEKUAŞ CENK AVCI,ISTANBUL/TURKEY
31. SHOGEN FARUK ARSLANDOK ,ISTANBUL/TURKEY
32. SEWLOK ERDINC UNSALAN – K.MARAS/TURKEY.
33. ALI BERZEG, NEW YORK/UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
34. THAGUSE EMRE AKCAN ,SAKARYA/TURKEY
35. KALEKUTE ENVER SAGLAM , ISTANBUL/TURKEY
36. MIQOD NAHIDE DEMIR AYBAT – KONYA/TURKEY
37. AWTLE MUSTAFA YUKSEL,SAMSUN/TURKEY
38. HAK’ASHE ERKAN BATIR , KAYSERI/TURKEY
39. MELGOSH ILHAMI DEMIR, TOKAT/ TURKEY
40. DR. YETKIN INANOZ, ISTANBUL/TURKEY
41. KHUAKO FEHIM SARAC, ISTANBUL/TURKEY
42. KUEKUE CANER , KAYSERI/TURKEY
43. DR. MURAT DEMIRHAN, ANKARA/TURKEY
44. SHEWCEN OMER ERKAN,MUNIH/GERMANY
45. YEKUASH YUKSEL NIDA,MANISA/TURKEY
46. KUBE PERVIN MATSON, GÄVLE / SWEDEN
47. BAGH OGUZ BAGCI,MELBOURNE/AUSTRALIA
48. SHEWOSF NEFIN GUCLU,AMSTERDAM/ NETHERLANDS
49. PSHIGHUSE TEKNUR BASOK, ISTANBUL/TURKEY
50. MAUSHE HUSEYIN ULAMLI, YOZGAT/TURKEY
51. MERZEY EROL, KAYSERI/TURKEY
52. SHEWDJEN CEVAHIR ERKAN, MUNIH/GERMANY
53. IEZELDEEN SHOAIB , TIDAHOLM/SWEDEN.
54. SARAH ASHMOZ , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
55. AYBAK ASHMOOZ , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
56. SUSAN ASHMOZ , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
57. LAUSTEN ASHMOOZ , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
58. NEBAL SHAPSO , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
59. GUNAY SHAPSO , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
60. ASIM SHAPSO , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
61. ARIF NASH , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
62. BELLA SHJASH , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
63. WAFA HAKHU , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
64. MERVAT LABAY , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
65. YAHYA HAKHO , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
66. GORKOJ JUSHAN , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
67. BEBARS A. SHAWGAN , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
68. MOHAMMAD H. SHAWGAN , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
69. AZMI THAWKHO , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
70. JAMEEL SHJASH , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
71. SUHAILA SHJASH , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
72. MARYAM NATKHO , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
73. ESMAEL LABAY , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
74. ALI LABAY , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
75. ADAM LABAY , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
76. AMIR LABAY , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
77. HAROUN HAKHO , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
78. SAFWAN HAKHU , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
79. MOHAMMAD LABAY , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
80. OMAR NAPSO , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
81. LINA SHAPSO , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
82. RANIA GORKOJ , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
83. NAPSO HAROUN , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
84. SANA'A LABAY , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
85. YACOUB LABAY , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
86. HALA LABAY , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
87. ADNAN LABAY , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
88. MARIAN LABAY , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
89. ISMAIL ASHMOZ , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
90. LINDA LABAY , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
91. ABDEL RAHMAN LABAY , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
92. SAMARA ASHMOZ , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
93. FADEL ABZAKH , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
94. AZIZ KHAWAJ , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
95. MOHAMMAD SHOGAN , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
96. LANA SHOGAN , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
97. SUAD HARSHOUQ , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
98. HAROUN THAWKHO , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
99. FOUAD SHOSH’HA , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
100. TAMBI SHOSH’HA , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
101. SYLVIA ECHLIEN , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
102. LISA THAWKHO , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
103. MARYAM SHOSH’HA , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
104. ALI AMIN SHJASH , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
105. ALI HADISH , KFAR,KAMA, ISRAEL.
106. BASMA NASH , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
107. ZAKARIA KHAWAJ , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
108. FIRAS ZAWER , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
109. NOUR BEY NATKHO , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
110. NOURA NAPSO , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
111. MERVAT KHAWAJ , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
112. HAROUN JINDAR , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
113. BADER THAWKHO , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
114. MOHAMMAD A. LABAY , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
115. ADAM A. SHOBASH , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
116. IMAD SHABSOUGH , AMMAN/JORDAN
117. IHSAN KHOUN , CIRCASSIAN DIASPORA
118. ANAS BASHMAF , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
119. LINAH THAWKHO , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
120. IBRAHIM THAWKHO , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
121. IBRAHIM KHAWAJ , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
122. SHINA KHAWAJ , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
123. JULIAN CHOS’HA , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
124. JAM HORAN , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
125. MONA KHAWAJ , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
126. SARA NAPSO , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
127. SAID LAMBER , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
128. HUDA ABERG , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
129. ISHAQ GORKOJ , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
130. NAPSO FOUAD , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
131. JAN OMAR , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
132. NAFNA SHOGAN , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
133. FAKHER SALEH , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
134. ISHAQ NASH , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
135. LANA AQBI – OTAWA/CANADA
136. NOUR M. GHOSH , CIRCASSIAN DIASPORA.
137. HAZAR M. GHOSH , THE CIRCASSIAN DIASPORA.
138. SARAH THAWKHO , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
139. MEJD GHOTOQ , THE CIRCASSIAN DIASPORA
140. ZACK BARSAQUA , NEW JERSEY/USA.
141. BELAL BEYRAM BASHKOUR , THE CIRCASSIAN DIASPORA
142. MAHER AQBI ,AMMAN/JORDAN
143. NIZAR KOKH ,AMMAN/JORDAN
144. JANET BASHQAWI ,AMMAN/JORDAN
145. MALIK LIBZO ,AMMAN/JORDAN
146. AHMED DAGHESTANI ,AMMAN/JORDAN
147. JAWAD HABI ,AMMAN/JORDAN
148. TAMBI BIYOUK ,AMMAN/JORDAN
149. HAMID ABZAKH ,AMMAN/JORDAN
150. ZAINA BASHQAWI ,AMMAN/JORDAN
151. AMIN ANSOUQA ,AMMAN/JORDAN
152. NATALIE QAZAN ,AMMAN/JORDAN
153. DR. ROUHI SHHALTOUGH – AMMAN/JORDAN
154. MOHAMMAD SHAHANKARI – AMMAN/JORDAN
155. FAWZI AZOUQA ,AMMAN/JORDAN
156. DR. LISA JARKASI , MELBOURNE/AUSTRALIA
157. HASAN NABAS , AMMAN/JORDAN
158. SAID SHUQOM ,AMMAN/JORDAN
159. AYMAN AZOUQAH ,AMMAN/JORDAN
160. ADNAN YUNS AFEMAJ , ZARQA, JORDAN.
161. MAZEN LEBZO ,AMMAN/JORDAN
162. MOHAMMAD HAMZOUQ ,AMMAN/JORDAN
163. SARI I. SHAWASH ,AMMAN/JORDAN
164. KAMAL BARSEQ ,AMMAN/JORDAN
165. SAMAR BLANGABS ,AMMAN/JORDAN
166. DANA WAJOKH, NEW JERSEY/UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
167. OMAR SHABSOUGH , AMMAN/JORDAN
168. AHMAD BASHQAWI – TORONTO/CANADA
169. OTHMAN SHABSOUGH ,AMMAN/JORDAN
170. MADEEN SOBER , AMMAN/JORDAN
171. NADER ABZAKH , AMMAN/JORDAN
172. SAWSER HATUKAY, KFAR,KAMA, ISRAEL
173. ABDALRAHMAN KARAF , DAMASCUS/SYRIA.
174. AMMAR TOU , HOMS/SYRIA.
175. TSEY ILHAN DEMIRBASCA, YALOVA/TURKEY
176. BIRANT NECATI KIZILKAYA,YALOVA /TURKEY
177. NAJE BERK ATLI ,KONYA/TURKEY
178. YEDIC CAGATAY OZBAY,MUNICH/GERMANY
179. SOKUR ABDULMETIN SUNGUR, ANKARA/TURKEY
180. SHID TACETTIN CETINKAYA, KAYSERI/TURKEY
181. GUKAY BILLUR AKTURK,ISTANBUL, TURKEY
182. DR. REEM DAHSHAN , FRESNO/UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
183. OMRAN BALKER, FRESNO/UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
184. MAHA MIRZA, FRESNO/UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
185. AHMAD BASHQAOY , FRESNO/UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
186. RA’EDA TSEY , THE CIRCASSIAN DIASPORA
187. RANYA BEYRAM , THE CIRCASSIAN DIASPORA.
188. HANA HAJIBEK , THE CIRCASSIAN DIASPORA.
189. SANA VAROUQA, ARKANSAS/UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
190. DALAL SHAKER – NEW JERSEY/UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
191. ZUHAIR BASHQAWI , CHICAGO/UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
192. C-ANA ASSOCIATION , KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
27.08.2015