North Caucasian intellectuals support Maxim Shevchenko

Representatives of the North Caucasian intellectuals made a statement in connection with an appeal of the Russian Jewish Congress to the Public Chamber (PC) of the Russian Federation demanding to exclude Maxim Shevchenko from its membership. According to the intellectuals from the North Caucasian republics, Maxim Shevchenko is one of the few public figures in Russia, who is closely engaged in the North Caucasus issues and knows the problems of the region.

The Russian Jewish Congress (RJC) sent a letter to the PC of the Russian Federation urging to exclude Maxim Shevchenko from its membership after Mr Shevchenko explained action of Norwegian terrorist Breivik by his sympathy with Israel and compared Israel's policies towards Palestinians with Nazi Germany's policy towards Jews.

The RJC's letter states that Maxim Shevchenko's statement about Israel's policy towards the Gaza is openly chauvinistic, inciting anti-Israeli sentiments and absolutely contradicts the basic principles of the PC of the Russian Federation.

Public activists of the North Caucasus argued against that appeal. "Due to the fact that Maxim Shevchenko is the leader of the Working Group on the development of social dialogue and civil society institutions in the Caucasus, we consider it our duty to express our position on this issue," states the statement signed by public figures, workers of culture, human rights activists, scientists and journalists of the North Caucasian republics.

"Exclusion of Shevchenko from the membership of the PC of the Russian Federation would entail elimination of Russia's only platform, which actually works at the federal level and provides the public dialogue in the North Caucasus, and will cause a certain response in the region," states the statement in support of Maxim Shevchenko.

Maxim Shevchenko himself notes that he has a right to speak on the policy of any state and have his own political views.

"I won't recall any of my words that I have said, that's my political position. I believe that what Israel undertakes towards the Palestinians is a crime. I also believe that Russia should give a very tough assessment of the continuing blockade of Gaza, since nothing is being done to deliver humanitarian goods, food and medical supplies to Gaza. The blockade of Gaza is a shame for the modern world," states the public activist and asserts that the experience of Israel's fight against terrorism cannot be applied in the Caucasus.