Syrian Circassians do not come under the term of “compatriot”, the Ministry of Regional Development considers

The question of attribution of Syrian Circassians to the category of compatriots abroad demands a thorough study with the participation of experts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Federal Migration Service, officials of the Ministry of Regional Development of the Russian Federation (“Minregion”) consider. This was the answer to the appeal of Circassian non-governmental organization of Adygea movement “Adyge Khase – the Circassian Parliament” with a request of repatriation of the Circassians from Syria.

Earlier, the “Caucasian Knot” reported about the situation with the Circassians in Syria where during armed conflict their settlements are regularly bombed.

Director of “Minregion” Alexander Zhuravsky gave a detailed reply to the appeal from “Adyge Khase” running that representatives of Circassian diaspora in Syria were not compatriots for the Russians and had no right to rely upon aid in return to their historical homeland.

“Syrian Circassians are descendants of natives of the area of the Adyg peoples of Northern and Western Caucasus who did not adopt Russian citizenship and made their free choice to leave the region after the end of military actions during the Caucasian war (1817 – 1864). So, the forefathers of modern Syrian Circassians lived in the territories which by the moment of their resettlement to the Ottoman Empire in 1864 were not part of the Russian state and according to the law “On state policy of the Russian Federation concerning compatriots abroad”, could not be considered as emigrants”, a message of Fatima Tlisova, correspondent of “Russian Service” of “Voice of America”, posted on the Facebook runs.

“We are not considered one of the peer fraternal nations living in the Russian Federation. Revision of the Russian Empire’s policy in the epoch of conquest of Western Caucasus is not planned. Russia is not going to render aid to our compatriots in Syria”, Chairman of “Adyge Khase – the Circassian Parliament” Adam Bogus declared during a virtual round table conference in the agency “Adyge Khekum and mak’. Voice of Chircassia”.

See earlier reports: "Maikop Mayoralty did not sanction rally in support of Syrian Circassians," "Maikop hosts solo pickets demanding immediate evacuation of Syrian Circassians," "Shkhalakhov: in 2012, 452 immigrants arrived in Adygea from Syria."