Historians associate prosecution of Ruslan Gvashev with ignorance of Adyg customs

Researchers from the Kabardino-Balkarian Institute for Humanitarian Research (known as KBIGI) have sent an appeal to Veniamin Kondratiev, Governor of the Krasnodar Territory. In their appeal, they have expressed their concern over prosecution of Ruslan Gvashev, an activist of the Adyg national movement.

According to the appeal, the reason for the prosecution of Ruslan Gvashev is in his participation in the funeral service timed to May 21, the memorial date to pay tribute to the victims of the Caucasian War.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on June 2, the Lazarevskoe District Court of Sochi found Ruslan Gvashev guilty of organizing an unsanctioned action on the Day of the Adygs' Memory and fined him by 10,000 roubles. On June 2, Ruslan Gvashev told the "Caucasian Knot" about his categorical disagreement with the court judgement. He noted that "on May 21, for many years Adygs have gathered near the Tulip Tree, and they need no permits."

"We believe that the actions of the Sochi police and judicial bodies to prosecute participants of an informal and peaceful event, a prayer for the victims of the Caucasian war, contradict the constitutional rights of Russian citizens and damage the image of the Krasnodar Territory," states the researchers' appeal posted on the website of the Kabardino-Balkarian Regional Human Rights Centre.

The authors of the appeal have called on the Governor of the KrasnodarTerritory "to investigate the current situation and find an acceptable and fair solution."

The case of Ruslan Gvashev means "a complete misunderstanding, since he did not violate any civil regulations," said Madina Khakuasheva, PhD in Philology, a leading researcher at the KBIGI, a member of the Union of Russian Writers.

According to Madina Khakuasheva, the situation with the prosecution of Ruslan Gvashev "can be treated as a manifestation of disparagement or ignorance of the traditional customs and traditions of the Adyg people."

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