Circassian public organization set up commission on repatriation of Syrian Circassians

On December 29, Cherkessk hosted an extraordinary sitting of the Council of Circassian NGOs in Russia in the context of the appeal of the Circassian living Syrian Arab Republic to the Russian Federation asking for help. The participants of the sitting - leaders of the Russian Circassian NGOs and movements - set up a commission on repatriation of Circassians from Syria.

Besides, the sitting adopted an appeal to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev asking him to ensure the right to voluntary resettlement of compatriots, who ask for help, from abroad to Russia. The document was signed by 20 Circassian organizations from different regions of Russia.

Let us remind you that on December 25, 115 Circassian nationals living in Syria sent an appeal to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, the head of the Republic of Adygea Aslan Tkhakushinov, the State Council of Adygea - Khase, public movement "Adyge Khase" and the people of Adygea, "calling for a helping hand and rescue from imminent tragedy." On December 28, 57 more Syrian Circassians addressed the leadership of the Russian Federation and the government of Adygea for help in resettling to Russia.

According to the Circassians, who had addressed the Russian leadership, every day Syria sees massive clashes of different groupings with the authorities of the country, innocent people perish in hundreds; there is no hope for stabilization of the situation and live in peace and security.

In case of return of Syrian Circassians to their homeland, there will be no problems with their accommodation, said Asker Sokht, the head of the Krasnodar Territorial Public Organization "Adyge Khase".

He believes that there should be no problems with accommodation of Syrian Circassians in Russia: "They may settle in the village of Mafe-Khabl in the Republic of Adygea, where repatriates from Kosovo live. Recently the territory of the village was significantly expanded; and a large land plot was reserved. In fact, the Syrian Circassians, who have addressed the Russian leadership, will make one street of the village, as no more than 30-40 families want to return."

Alexander Okhtov, the head of the National-Cultural Autonomy of Russian Adygs, believes that Syrian Circassians should have no problems with adaptation in Russia.

Russia will be able to take Circassian families only if there is the will of the country's leadership, said Arambi Khapai, the chairman of the Public Movement "Adyge-Khase-Circassian Parliament" of Adygea.

"If a full-scale war starts in Syria, the Circassians will have to leave the country. Instead of migrating to other countries, it's better for them to return to their homeland," he said.