Delegations of Adygea and Karachay-Cherkessia refuse to approve ICA's activities

Today, the building of the Kabarda Drama Theatre in Nalchik has hosted the 10^th Congress of the International Circassian Association (ICA). The Congress was attended by 77 delegates from countries of compact residence of Adyg people, including Syria, Jordan, Turkey, Israel, countries of Europe, and republics of the Russian Federation, such as the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR), the Karachay-Cherkessian Republic (KChR), and the Republic of Adygea, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

Today, Khauti Sokhrokov has been re-elected the President of the ICA. Out of 73 delegates, 62 gave their votes to Khauti Sokhrokov, 10 delegates voted against him, and one delegate abstained.

Members of the delegation from the Republic of Adygea and Karachay-Cherkessia voted against Khauti Sokhrokov. "We have nothing personal against Khauti Sokhrokov. However, we are not satisfied with the activities of the ICA," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by one of the members of the Congress, who voted against Khauti Sokhrokov.

In his conversation with the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, Zhelyabi Kalmykov, Chairman of the Coordination Council of the Adyg public organizations, has commented on the outcome of the Congress and the criticism of the ICA.

"It never happens that a public organization is able to solve the problems of the whole ethnic group within a short period. It is virtually impossible, and it is to be understood," stated Zhelyabi Kalmykov.

According to him, the executive committee headed by Khauti Sokhrokov "has satisfactorily coped with the tasks of the ICA." "However, of course, not all expectations were met. I believe that such dissatisfaction with the ICA's activities is a normal state in the social movement. Of course, there are certain moments to be criticized for. However, critics should also pay attention to their own activities and ask themselves how actively they participated in this movement and what they personally did," said Zhelyabi Kalmykov.

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