Circassian activists throughout the world have filed a new application with Lithuania on 11.03.2015 to recognize the Circassian Genocide committed by Russian Empire. Application was submitted to Dalia Grybauskaite, Loreta Grauziniene and Algirdas Butkevicius who are President of Lithuania, Speaker of the Lithuania Parliament “Seimas” and Prime Minister of Lithuania respectively.
Application to Lithuania is a sequential application after Ukraine http://www.cherkessia.net/bakisacimiz.php?id=3371 and Poland http://www.cherkessia.net/bakisacimiz.php?id=3376 submissions. As per known by public opinion, Ukraine application is about to be the first to obtain a result.
There is a legislative proposal in Ukraine Parliament of Verkhovna Rada with number of 2140 on 13.02.2015 by parliamentarian Mr. Dmytro Volodimirovich. It is currently being proceeded before the Committee on Human Rights, National Minorities and International Relations. It is expected that increasing Circassian activists accross the world are going to file new submissons to recognize.
Her Excellency, President of the Republic of Lithuania, Dalia GRYBAUSKAITĖ Her Excellency, Speaker of the Seimas, Loreta GRAUŽINIENĖ
His Excellency, Prime Minister, Algirdo BUTKEVIČIAUS
In Re: A Request for Recognizing the Circassian Genocide committed by the Tsarist Russian Empire
In 18th and 19th centuries, genocide against the Circassian people had taken place where significant majority of Circassians were exterminated by the Russian Empire to take over our country, the Circassian 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, 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 besides published documents by eyewitnesses in propria persona.
Today, only one tenth of the Circassian 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 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 through all the pains of the conflict to return back 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 in issue is still continuing in different forms.
Russian Federation’s units, Kabardino-Balkarian Republic Parliament on its 7, February, 1992 dated and (№977–XII-B) numbered decision and the Adygea Republic Parliament’s 29, April, 1996 dated and 64-1 numbered decision, 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. And they requested from the Russian Federation to recognize the Circassian Genocide.
Georgia, on 20, May, 2011, with the decision it reached in its parliament upon the request of the Circassian People, was the first country as 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 homeland of Circassians 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 civil population.
The Georgian Parliament, in accordance with the 18 October 1907 dated IV numbered Hague Agreement and 1948 dated Prevention and Punishment of Genocide Crime Agreement, announced that the actions committed against Circassians were genocide.
The Circassian 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 Petro Poroshenko, the Ukrainian President instructed the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to investigate the issue. In their reply brief dated 07/07/2014, the representatives of the Ministry expressed the instruction of Mr. Poroshenko and stated that the congressman Oleg Lyashko has submitted a legislative proposal No. 4203 to the Supreme Rada of Ukraine 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 colonization 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 number of 2140 on 13.02.2015 by parliamentarian Mr. Dmytro Volodimirovich in the new legislation session with Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. It is being proceeded before the Committee 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 to be recognized, where the Circassian Genocide has been filed to Poland on 11.11.2014 by Circassian civil rights defenders and activists throughout the world.
The Circassian Problem 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 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. 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.
At this point, as Lithuania was the first state to declare independence from the Soviet Union, it is an important country for Circassians. The destinies of Circassians and Lithuanians are intersected at their freedom aspirations.
Lithuanians were also exiled from their homeland similar to Circassians, there was only a difference that Circassian exile was perpetrated in the period of Russian Empire and Lithuanian exile was committed in the Soviet epoch.
The “Circassian Problem” 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 for the recognition of the Circassian Genocide to your excellency.
1. HAPI CEVDET YILDIZ- BANDIRMA/TURKEY.
2. MAHMUT BI- BURSA/TURKEY.
3. KHUADE ADNAN – MAYKOP/CIRCASSIA.
4. ADEL BASHQAWI – AMMAN/JORDAN.
5. IYAD YOUGHAR- UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
6. ALMIR ABREG- MAYKOP/ CIRCASSIA
7. Dr. KARDEN MURAT YILDIRIM - ISTANBUL/TURKEY.
8. KUBE NURHAN FIDAN – ISTANBUL/TURKEY.
9. SHALAXHO RAGIP METE - SAKARYA/TURKEY.
10. ANDZOR AHAHOV- NALCHIK/CIRCASSIA
11. HABRACO MURAT OZDEN -ISTANBUL/TURKEY
12. HUST SEMIH AKGUN – ISTANBUL/TURKEY
13. Dr. OMER AYTEK KURMEL -ISTANBUL/TURKEY.
14. ZOHER THAWCHO -ISRAEL/KFAR KAMA.
15. JADE WUMAR DENIZ – SAKARYA/TURKEY.
16. HATKO VURAL BAYRAM - ISTANBUL/TURKEY
17. CUSHA WUMAR- IZMIR/TURKEY.
18. YESI MUSTAFA SAADET- ISTANBUL/ TURKEY.
19. BALKAR SELCUK- VAN/TURKEY
20. GINA HABOUKH –UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
21. THATL SACIT TUNC- ISTANBUL/TURKEY.
22. HATX YALCIN KARABULUT- ISTANBUL/TURKEY
23. SOGEN FARUK ARSLANDOK -ISTANBUL/TURKEY
24. SEWLOK ERDINC UNSALAN – K.MARAS/TURKEY.
25. THAGUSE EMRE AKCAN -SAKARYA/TURKEY
26. KALEKUTE ENVER SAGLAM - ISTANBUL/TURKEY
27. MIQOD NAHIDE DEMIR AYBAT – KONYA/TURKEY
28. SHAS’E ASLAN – MAYKOP/CIRCASSIA
29. AWTLE MUSTAFA YUKSEL-SAMSUN/TURKEY
30. HAK’ASHE ERKAN BATIR - KAYSERI/TURKEY
31. MELGOSH ILHAMI DEMIR- TOKAT/ TURKEY
32. Dr. YETKIN INANOZ- ISTANBUL/TURKEY
33. KHUAKO FEHIM SARAC- ISTANBUL/TURKEY
34. OMER PIHAVA- PARIS/ FRANCE
35. KUEKUE CANER - KAYSERI/TURKEY
36. Dr. MURAT DEMIRHAN- ANKARA/TURKEY
37. SHEWCEN OMER ERKAN-MUNIH/GERMANY
38. YEKUASH YUKSEL NIDA-MANISA/TURKEY
39. KUBE PERVIN MATSON- GÄVLE / SWEDEN
40. BAGH OGUZ BAGCI-MELBOURNE/AUSTRALIA
41. SHEWOSF NEFIN GUCLU-AMSTERDAM/ NETHERLANDS
42. PSHIGHUSE TEKNUR BASOK- ISTANBUL/TURKEY
43. MAUSHE HUSEYIN ULAMLI- YOZGAT/TURKEY
44. MERZEY EROL- KAYSERI/TURKEY
45. UFUK ALI BAYSAN- PARIS/FRANCE
46. ZEYNEP PIHAVA - PARIS/FRANCE
47. RUSLAN GHUASHO- SOCI /CIRCASSIA
48. SHEWCEN CEVAHIR ERKAN –MUNIH/GERMANY
49. WAFA HAKHO - KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
50. MERVAT LABAY - KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
51. YAHYA HAKHO - KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
52. ALI LABAY - KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
53. ADAM LABAY - KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
54. AMIR LABAY - KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
55. HAROUN HAKHO - KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
56. SAFWAN HAKHO - KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
57. MOHAMMAD LABAY - KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
58. ASEM SHAPSO - KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
59. LINA SHAPSO - KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
60. SANA’A LABAY - KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
61. JUNAI SHAPSO - KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
62. YAKOUB LABAY - KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
63. HALA LABAY - KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
64. ADNAN LABAY - KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
65. MERYAN LABAY - KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
66. NIBAL SHAPSO - KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
67. AYBAK ASHMOZ - KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
68. SARA ASHMOZ - KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
69. ISMAIL ASHMOZ - KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
70. SAMARA ASHMOZ - KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
71. FADIL ABZAKH - KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
72. AZIZ KHAWAJ - KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
73. MOHAMMAD SHOGUN - KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
74. LANA SHOGUN - KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
75. SUAD HARSHOUQ - KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
76. FUAD SHOSH’HA - KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
77. TAMBI SHOSH’HA - KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
78. NEFNA SHOGUN - KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
79. MERYAM SHOSH’HA - KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
80. JAMIL SHJASH - KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
81. SUHEYLA SHJASH - KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
82. ALI AMIN SHJASH - KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
83. SILVYA ESHLINE - KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
84. MERYAM NATKHO - KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
85. BELA SHJASH - KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
86. RANYA GHORKOJ - KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
87. NOURA NAPSO - KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
88. HAROUN GINDAR - KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL.
89. IMAD SHABSOUGH - AMMAN/JORDAN
90. IHSAN KHOUN - CIRCASSIAN DIASPORA
91. LANA AQBI – OTAWA/CANADA
92. MEJD GHOTOQ - CIRCASSIAN DIASPORA
93. ZACK BARSIK - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
94. MAZIN LIBZO - AMMAN/JORDAN
95. BELAL BEYRAM BASHKOUR - CIRCASSIAN DIASPORA
96. DR. IBRAHIM VAROQUA - CIRCASSIAN DIASPORA
97. DR. ROUHI SHHALTOUGH – AMMAN/JORDAN
98. ISHAQ MOLA - AMMAN/JORDAN
99. MOHAMMAD SHAHANKARI – AMMAN/JORDAN
100. AMIN ANSOUQA - AMMAN/JORDAN -
101. DR. LISA JARKASI - AUSTRALIA
102. HASAN NABAS - AMMAN/JORDAN
103. DANA WAJOKH UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
104. ESMAEL LABAY, KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
105. OMAR SHABSOUGH - AMMAN/JORDAN
106. AHMAD BASHQAWI – TORONTO/CANADA
107. MALIK LIBZO - AMMAN/JORDAN
108. HAMID ABZAKH - AMMAN/JORDAN
109. MADEEN SOBER - AMMAN/JORDAN
110. NADER ABZAKH - AMMAN/JORDAN
111. LOUSTEN ASHMOZ, KFAR-KAMA, ISRAEL
112. SAWSER HATUKAY, KFAR-KAMA, ISRAEL
113. NOOCH THAWCHO, KFAR-KAMA, ISRAEL.
114. ALI HADISH, KFAR KAMA/ISRAEL
115. NATI THAWCHO, KFAR-KAMA, ISRAEL.
116. MANAF STAS - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
117. BERIN ALTEN - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
118. HASSAN YOUGHAR - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
119. TAMARA STAS - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
120. DALAL SHAKER - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
121. BADRIA GHAZI - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
122. FADI MAKANAS - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
123. KEVIN KASHMAN - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
124. ASLAN TALOSTAN - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
125. NEJLA ABAZA - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
126. MOHAMED SHERDO - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
127. DUNA SHERDO - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
128. DANIEL SHERDO - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
129. SIHAM ABAZA - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
130. MOHAMED ABAZA - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
131. MAJDOLIN ABAZA - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
132. IMAN ABAZA - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
133. NIDA ABAZA - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
134. AYMAN ABAZA - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
135. SAID ABAZA - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
136. SAM SHERDO - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
137. NART SHAWA - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
138. YANAL SHAWA - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
139. SAMIR HATO - JORDAN
140. SIMA CHABAN - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
141. DANIA CHABAN - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
142. MOTAZ QADAN, - NEW JERSEY, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
143. OMAR TSAY – NEW JERSEY, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
144. LINDA KUSHHA - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
145. ALIY TLIAP,ADIGHEKHAL/CIRCASSIA