In KBR, rights defenders ask Russian General Prosecutor to treat Syrian Circassians as compatriots
The Human Rights Centre (HRC) of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR) has appealed to Yuri Chaika, General Prosecutor of the Russian Federation, with a request to check the refusal of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) to recognize Syrian Circassians as compatriots abroad.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that during the conflict in Syria, Circassian villages came under bombing. Members of the Circassian community have repeatedly asked the Russian authorities for help.
In December 2016, the public organization "Ochag" (Hearth) reported on the language barrier and the employment problems as major problems of repatriates from Syria in the KBR.
The appeal of the KBR's HRC, signed by its leader Valery Khatazhukov, states that since the beginning of the conflict in Syria, Circassians became one of the most vulnerable segments of the population. Upon returning to Russia, Circassians who have no Russian citizenship encounter obstacles from the authorities.
Circassians face the most difficult problems during preparation of documents for status of temporary shelter, temporary residence permit, residence permit, and Russian citizenship. Rights defenders associate the reason for the above situation in the authorities' attitude to members of the Circassian Diaspora living in Syria as to foreign nationals.
Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.