Circassian activists criticize check of pupils' participation in mourning action

The police have questioned schoolchildren in the Sochi aul (village) Bolshoi Kichmay about the reasons for their participation in the mourning ceremonies to mark the anniversary of the end of the Caucasian War. This is another proof of the authorities' attempts to erase the memory about the tragic events of the war, Circassian activists assert.

The message that at School No. 90 policemen gathered pupils and parents and questioned them about children's participation in the morning ceremonies dedicated to the end of the Caucasian War arrived at the SMS-service to the "Caucasian Knot" on July 28.

Schoolchildren are annually taking part in the mourning ceremonies held by Circassians around the world, but law enforcement and supervisory bodies expressed their interest to them for the first time, said Marzet Alieva, the headmistress.

In the opinion of Aslan Beshto, the chairman of the public organization "Kabardian Congress", the ban on participation in the mourning ceremonies imposed by regional authorities, is a consequence of their work to counter those who raise the Circassian issue. At the same time, as he said, Circassian activists have repeatedly been offered to give up their mourning actions.

According to his version, in the situation, when Circassians' problems are not solved, and "repatriation is virtually locked up," new interethnic problems are scaling up.

The authorities should not seek to stop Circassians' mourning ceremonies, Mukhammad Cherkesov, the head of the "Adyge Khase" of Karachay-Cherkessia, believes.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.