Human rights activists called on Kokov to stop pressuring activists ahead of Adyghe Remembrance Day.

A week before the day of mourning on May 21, law enforcement officers are massively handing out warnings against participating in the march, human rights activists reported in an appeal to the head of Kabardino-Balkaria, Kazbek Kokov, which was published on the website of the Human Rights Center of Kabardino-Balkaria.

"The situation surrounding the Day of Remembrance of the Adyghe (Circassians) – victims of the Russo-Caucasian War, annually celebrated on May 21, has reached a critical point. Persecution and pressure on citizens based on their intention to honor the memory of their ancestors has become systemic, planned, and ongoing. A week before the date of mourning, citizens began being summoned to police stations to receive "warnings" about the inadmissibility of breaking the law by participating in mass events. These warnings are unfounded and are purely intimidating and preventative in nature. Already There is now reliable information about warnings issued by law enforcement agencies in the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic to dozens of residents of the republic. However, over the many years of mourning processions on May 21, not a single case of riots or other unlawful actions has been recorded. Participants have never disturbed public order or clashed with law enforcement. The procession has always been entirely peaceful and orderly," the authors of the appeal noted. They emphasized that the restrictions and cancellations of the procession due to the coronavirus pandemic were understood. "But after life returned to normal, all restrictions were lifted, except for the ban on the funeral procession on May 21st, <...> Since then, the Nalchik city authorities and republican officials, refusing to approve the procession on May 21st, began to cite completely far-fetched and politically biased arguments, citing events in Ukraine," the statement reads.

"The funeral procession on May 21st is not a political action, not a demonstration of loyalty or disloyalty to anyone," the authors of the appeal pointed out.

"This day was declared a non-working day by the Supreme Council of the KBSSR in 1992 precisely as a day of remembrance - regardless of any connection with the current political situation. And the republican authorities, instead of supporting the mourning event and taking the initiative in holding it in the established traditional manner, are effectively condoning it The unlawful actions of law enforcement agencies. In this context, the very fact of double standards on the part of the authorities is particularly indicative and blatant, when at the same time other mass events (including entertainment) are being held unimpeded in Nalchik, without any reference to "events in Ukraine" or "the need to demonstrate solidarity." A logical and non-rhetorical question arises: why are festive processions allowed, but a mourning procession on May 21st is not?" the authors emphasized. The mourning day of May 21st has become an "unfavorable" date for local authorities, which they intend to eradicate using any pretext. This indicates a selective, politically motivated approach to citizens' constitutional rights, which is unacceptable, the human rights activists noted.

"We are forced to acknowledge that such actions by security forces destabilize the situation in the republic rather than stabilize it. Instead of relieving tension, law enforcement agencies are creating more of it. There is a deliberate, calculated attempt to delegitimize the Day of Mourning itself and criminalize any participation in it, threatening recipients of the 'Warning' with administrative and criminal penalties," they emphasized.

First, a ban was imposed on the horseback procession, then on the pedestrian procession along Nalchik's main street. "The final step remains—to prohibit gatherings at the 'Tree of Life,' where mourning events traditionally conclude," the authors stated.

On May 21, mourning events are held throughout the world, wherever a large Adyghe (Circassian) diaspora resides—in Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Germany, the United States, France, Israel, and other countries. But no one there hinders people wishing to honor the memory of the victims of the Caucasian War on this day. People are free to gather and hold processions. And only in the historical homeland of the Adyghe, Nalchik, does the same thing happen every year: bans, warnings, detentions, arrests, human rights activists emphasized.

23:30 01.06.2025

A participant in the Nalchik march deemed appealing his arrest pointless

Kazbek Mamikov, a participant in the Nalchik march marking the end of the Caucasian War who served his administrative arrest, did not appeal the court's decision. Two other participants succeeded in having their arrests reduced. There were no arrests in Maykop, but two activists had to write explanatory statements.

"Kazbek Valerievich, over the years we have repeatedly contacted you regarding the above-mentioned issues, but unfortunately, we have not seen any decisive action from the republic's leadership to protect citizens' rights. On the contrary, coercive measures are becoming more stringent every year: more and more participants in memorial events are being detained and brought to administrative responsibility. A striking example is the events of last year, when eight participants in the mourning procession in Nalchik were detained and, by court order, received administrative arrest for a period of three to ten days. Kazbek Valerievich, we expect a more decisive position from you, since its absence will be interpreted in society in only one way - as an inability or unwillingness to protect the people's right to preserve their historical memory. We urge you to intervene in the situation and counter the illegal persecution of citizens for their intention to participate in the mourning events on May 21 and the practice of knowingly "unfounded 'warnings,' and to ensure the protection and implementation of the constitutional right of residents of the republic to a peaceful march along the main street of Nalchik," they noted.

The appeal was signed by Marx Shakhmurzov, Chairman of the Kabardino-Balkarian Branch of the Russian Association of Victims of Political Repression; Valery Khatazhukov, Chairman of the Kabardino-Balkarian Regional Human Rights Center; Muzaryb Bzhakhov, Honored Architect of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic; Zaurbek Kozhev, PhD in History; artist Zaudin Tokov; and public figures Ismel Meshev, Azamat Shormanov, Mukhamed Berkhamov, and Alik Shashev.