Circassian Diaspora of Turkey comes out for defence of scientists from Kabardino-Balkaria

Members of the Circassian Diaspora of Turkey have called on Kazbek Kokov, the leader of Kabardino-Balkaria, to stop the persecution of scientists from the Kabardino-Balkarian Institute for Humanitarian Research by the police.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on November 18, human rights defenders urged Kazbek Kokov to prevent the persecution of scientists from the Institute for Humanitarian Research of the Kabardino-Balkarian Scientific Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), who were trying to recreate the true history and defend the native languages of the peoples of Northern Caucasus.

The concern of human rights defenders was caused by searches conducted at homes of several employees of the Kabardino-Balkarian Institute for Humanitarian Research. A campaign against the scientists is being launched on social media, the human rights defenders note in their appeal.

The appeal of Şogen Ümit Dinçer, the president of the Federation of Caucasian Associations of Turkey (KAFFED), to Kazbek Kokov has been published on the website of the Kabardino-Balkarian Regional Human Rights Centre. In the appeal, Şogen Ümit Dinçer expressed his concern about the searches at the houses of the scientists, during which “office equipment, books, and manuscripts were confiscated” and about the threat of closure of the Kabardino-Balkarian Institute for Humanitarian Research.

“The names of some scientists who were subjected to repression are well known in the Circassian world. These are Doctor of Philology Madina Khakuasheva, Candidates of Historical Sciences Aslan Mirzoev and Timur Aloev ... They actively participate in cultural and social programmes to strengthen ties with their historical homeland,” states the appeal.