The Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) of Ukraine has recognized the fact of the genocide of the Circassian people by the Russian Empire during the Russo-Caucasian War of 1763-1864. This was reported by MP Yaroslav Yurchyshyn.
In particular, Ukrainian MPs condemned the actions of the empire and expressed solidarity with the victims of the mass extermination of Circassians and forced expulsion from their historical homeland. Thus, the right of Circassians to "repatriation and self-determination" was recognized.
During the vote, 232 MPs supported the resolution, Yurchyshyn said.
The draft resolution on the recognition of the genocide of Circassians was submitted to the Rada for consideration in June 2022. The authors of the initiative were 16 MPs. The explanatory note to the document stated that representatives of the Circassian national movement had already addressed the Verkhovna Rada with a request to recognize the genocide on June 6.
"If the Verkhovna Rada approves this resolution, the Circassian people will receive an important political and legal achievement in the matter of restoring Circassia," the Council of the United Circassia stated at the time.
At least 50 Ukrainian parliamentarians from various parliamentary groups, including from the ruling Servant of the People party, supported the recognition of the Circassian genocide back in May of last year. Before the resolution was adopted in Ukraine, the only country that confirmed the fact of the Circassian genocide during the Russian-Caucasian War was Georgia - such a document was adopted there in 2011.
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Ibrahim Yaganov, head of the Free Circassia Association and member of the Civil Council (this organization calls on Russians to fight on the side of Ukraine), spoke about the possibility of Ukraine recognizing the Circassian genocide and the importance of “de-imperializing” Russia in an interview with the Kavkaz.Realii website.
Due to the Caucasian War and the mass deportation of Circassians to the Ottoman Empire, only about five percent of the Circassian people remained in their historical homeland. Currently, Circassians live in more than 50 countries around the world.
Photo:
Ukrainian parliamentarians and Circassian and Ukrainian activists who worked together to recognize the Circassian genocide.
