On the 20th of May, this year, Georgian Parliament admitted the genocide of Circassian nation, conducted by the Russian Empire in the 19th century.
Georgian deputies have unanimously voted for recognition of the genocide. It was decreed to:
“1. Admit mass extermination of Circassians (Adyghe) during the Russo-Caucasian war and their forceful expulsion from the historical motherland as an act of genocide, according to the IV Hague Convention, dated by the 18th of October 1907 ‘Regarding laws and rules of ground war’ and UN Convention, dated by the 9th of December, 1948 ‘Regarding prevention of genocide crimes and punishment for it’.
2. Admit the Circassians, who were forcefully expulsed from the country during Russo-Caucasian War and after it refugees according to UN Convention, dated by the 28th of July, 1951 ‘Regarding refugee status’”.
At first glance, it may seem that hardly anyone’s interested in the affairs of “days that passed long ago, tales of old”. Russo-Caucasian war ended almost 150 years ago (in 1864) and the Russian Empire itself has vanished from the world map long ago. Moreover, there hardly are some living claimants for the refugee status. Topicality of the political act that Georgian parliamentarians adopted is, putting it mildly, quite dubious. Due to a weird coincidence, mass protest actions in Tbilisi and Batumi followed the adoption of this “historical” resolution. Their edge was aimed at regime of Saakashvili, who was in Hungary at the moment — yet another coincidence, isn’t it? Long story short, both President and parliament of Georgia — which is in the utmost severe economic condition at the moment — has plenty of issues to deal with apart from the history of the 19th century. Yet, that’s just a first glimpse. Georgian has become — and will seemingly remain — the only country in the world that admitted the genocide of Circassian nation. Thought that Georgia still hasn’t admitted the genocide of Armenians in 1915 — admitted by 22 countries — never occurred to a single Georgian deputy. Neither had one of them thought of giving historical estimates to the forceful Islamization and extermination of Georgian Christians by the Ottoman Empire. Somehow, “historical” interest of contemporary Georgian politicians focused at the tragic destiny of Circassian nation. Why is that so?
America and the “Circassian issue”
Since recently, one of the oldest American universities, Rutgers (New Jersey University) started to research relations between Circassians and Russians. Center for Study of Genocide, Conflict Resolution, and Human Rights was created there — apart from Circassia it also deals with historical conflicts of other ethnic groups. American diplomacy is to characterize these relations as „genocide”. According to American scientists Iraqi genocide of Kurds and Russian genocide of Ukrainians (Holodomor of 1933) is to be given the same characteristic. One may have a look at the peculiar Caucasian map at the official website of the Centre — it features the borders of new Circassia, drawn by American strategists.
Without challenging the fact that interest of American scientist in the Circassian issue is purely academic, we’d still try to figure out, why money of American taxpayers (let me remind you once again that New Jersey Rutgers University belongs to the state) are carelessly spent for an outright science. In fact, according to American specialists, Circassian issue is a double-purpose weapon. Firstly, it may be used to set an already unstable Russian Northern Caucasus on fire, secondly — to aggravate Russo-Abkhazian[1] relations. Even if it fails to bring Abkhazia back to the cradle of Mother Georgia, it is to aggravate the regional situation up to a point, when both Georgia and the United States will be able to profiteer on it.
On the 23rd of November, 2008 an Emergency Convention of Circassian nation took place in Cherkessk. Issue of uniting three Russian Northern-Caucasian republics (Adyghe, Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachai-Cherkess) into the united Cherkess Republic was discussed there. Format of this article doesn’t allow us to cover the issue in details, but those readers, willing to get acquainted with the problem more closely, may refer to article of Andrey Epifantsev, who majors in this field — the article is named “Great Circassia. Forward to the past or back to future?” Long story short, we may say the only thing: legacy of Stalin’s national policy in the Caucasus is especially sophisticated. Time bombs that “Father of the Nations” left us may explode so severely that the splinters will fly everywhere. Outwardly modest claims of the united Circassia within Russia are so awkward in fact, that even mere attempts to bring the idea to life may loosen an already unstable situation in the Russian South. We also have to take the activity of numerous and influential Circassian community abroad into consideration. Circassian nationalistic movements — such as Haci Bayram in Turkey and Zeyad Hajo in the USA — dispose substantial financial and political resources. Headquarters of the Worldwide Circassian Brotherhood is situated in Los-Angeles. Its President Zamir Shuhov is fond of taking pictures at the background of American flag. Ahmat Ismagil — yet another ideologist of Circassian nationalism — openly stated that “Caucasus has to be liberated from Russians”. Rabbi Avraam Shmulevich, leader of the international Zionist movement “Bead Arcejnu”, is the ideological leader of “Great Circassia” in Israel, where a numerous Circassian community lives.
Why Georgia needed to exhume a 150-year-old history?
So what might follow such extravagant move of Georgia? It’s quite clear that no sane Western or Eastern politician will ever follow Saakashvili’s example. Thus, Georgia remains alone in that regard. Yet, it also reaps certain benefits from it exclusive position. From now on, everyone willing to add the fuel into this smoldering fire will be forced to act through Saakashvili. It’s clear that neither USA, nor Turkey will be able to admit this dubious genocide. Mind that the USA refuse to admit even the universally recognized genocide of Armenians, openly referring to their unwillingness to ruin the relationship with its Turkish ally, rather than applying to historical truth. However, now Americans and Turks have a handy opportunity to support Circassian separatism via their allied Georgia, which, in its turn, will only be glad to render exclusive aid to the new Big Brother and its closest ally.
Participants of mass protests demand the resignation of President Saakashvili. Tbilisi, the 20th of May, 2011.
Even Georgian mass protests force Saakashvili to step down sooner or later, his “legacy” will still hang over Russo-Georgian relations. Thus, he has all the chances to become similar to his notorious compatriot Joseph Stalin. Leaving the time bombs behind is so Stalin-like.
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