In Moscow, solo picketer demands immediate evacuation of Circassians from Syria to Russia

Today, in front of the building of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), a solo picket was held, urging the Russian authorities to immediately evacuate Circassian compatriots to their historic homeland from Syria, involved in military conflict.

The aim of the today's picket was to draw attention of the Russian authorities to the existing problem and to support the repatriation of Syrian Circassians to their historic homeland. This was stated by Rustam Shkakov, a participant of the picket, an activist from Kabardino-Balkaria.

According to him, about 120,000 Circassians have appeared to be left abandoned in Syria, where the heavy fighting take place, including in those dwelling settlements, where Circassians live compactly.

"The Syrian Circassians, including not only representatives of Circassians, but also Dagestanis, Chechens and other Caucasian peoples, appeared to be in the hell of war. Their lives are in danger, and so they are in urgent need of evacuation. Meanwhile, the Russian legislation, in particular, the Law 'On Compatriots' suggests that the Syrian Circassians are our compatriots, and Russia has no right to ignore the existence of the problem," Rustam Shkakov stated.

Rustam Shkakov was holding in his hands a poster, reading in Russian and English: "We demand immediate evacuation of Circassian compatriots to their historic homeland to the Russian Federation from the combat zone in Syria."

Most of passers-by near No. 32/34 in Smolenskaya Street and Sennaya Square, questioned by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, were not aware of the problem of Syrian Circassians; however, they heard about the war in Syria.

"For me, it is a revelation that so many of our compatriots live in Syria," said Anna Sokolova, a resident of Moscow.

Georgy, one more passer-by, has emphasized that he also did not hear of the problem. "If representatives of the Caucasian peoples really live there, then, I believe, the issue of their return to their historic homeland should be actively lobbied by the leaders of the republics of the Caucasus," he has noted.