On the eve of Sochi Olympics, US Congressman Paskrell speaks in support of Circassians

A week before the 2014 Olympics, Bill Paskrell, a US Congressman, spoke in support of the Circassian people, urging his colleagues to condemn the Sochi Olympics and support the Circassians' struggle for their culture. Activists of Circassian organizations expressed gratitude to Paskrell and hope that other Congressmen would listen to him.

The Paskrell's January 30 address to the US Congress says that he is deeply concerned about the situation on the eve of the Olympic Games and believes the decision to hold it in Sochi was wrong because of "the Russia's historical injustice to the Circassian nation."

In the opinion of Aslan Beshto, the former head of the movement "Adyge-Khase" in Abkhazia, Bill Paskrell's address shows that the Circassian issue causes interest in American experts.

Mr Beshto has noted that the state of New Jersey became residence for some of the Circassians scattered around the world; most of them are still in exile.

According to his story, Olympic officials have ignored all the problems of the Circassians.

Rep. Bill Paskrell turned to be an honest man; such are very seldom met among the officials of the Russian Federation, Abubekir Murzakan, the chairman of the public movement "Adyge Khekuzh-Cherkessia", told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. According to his story, now attempts are undertaken to conceal the truth about the history of the Circassians.

He added that almost all the appeals of Circassian public to the authorities of the Russian Federation remain unanswered.