Adam Bogus: about 100 families of Syrian Circassians are willing to move to Adygea

At present, about 100 families of Circassians from Syria are ready to relocate to Adygea. In total, up to 300 families are willing to relocate; however, many people feel restrictions of the legal difficulties for the return and the lack of a visa-free regime between Russia and Syria. This was reported by representatives of Adygea, who visited Syria on March 16-19 on the delegation of the Federation Council.

"Dozens of families are ready to immediately relocate to Adygea. In the future, depending on the development of the situation, this number may increase up to 300 families. No mass migration is observed. This is what we saw during our trip," Mugdin Chermen told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

The delegates from Adygea mentioned the lack of a visa-free regime between Russia and Syria as one of the main problems for relocation of Syrian Circassians to Russian. According to them, Syrian Circassians in injured voices say that Syria has always been friendly to Russia, unlike Turkey, which was often at war with Russia; however, there is a regime of visa-free travel between Turkey and Russia.

"Many of our compatriots are experiencing difficulties with registration documents for a one-year visa: it requires a list of documents, such as, for example, lack of criminal records certificate, which cannot be issued, since the police had stopped operating in many parts of Syria. No one advises citizens on those issues, and they have to turn to private travel companies, which take money from them in the amounts 5-10 times higher than the Embassy," says Adam Bogus.

The delegates from Adygea believe that the fact that they learned about the real situation in Syria represents one of the main results of their trip.

"We had to learn, what Syrian Circassians themselves want and whether they need help or not. Khapai, ex-Chairman of the "Adyge Khase", was voiced a warning that, allegedly, the appeal of Syrian citizens was a fake and no facts confirmed it. At one of the meetings held in Syria, a young man of about 30 years old came to us, and he confirmed that this was the real appeal, that he was the initiator of it, and that he was collecting signatures among his relatives and friends," said Adam Bogus.

"The Syrian Circassians are afraid to speak openly about their relocation because of the rigidity of the Syrian secret services, since they can be punished immediately. There are no legal proceedings and no investigation at the war-time. People, who are suspected of their disloyalty to the authorities, are being destroyed," state Adam Bogus.

Mugdin Chermen said that the Circassian Diaspora in Syria was emboldened by the arrival of their delegation, support of the Government of Russia, and the attention of the Senators. "That facts encouraged them," he has emphasized. "This is the main result of our travel."