Prof. Merab Chukhua: 'Russia Should Recognize The Circassian Cenocide'

MERAB CHUKHUA: "RUSSİA SHOULD RECOGNİZE THE CİRCASİAN GENOCİDE"

We talked today with Prof. Merab Chukhua, Founder Director bei Tbilisi State University and Circassian Culture Center in Tbilisi about the Circassian Genocide and Exile...

INFOCHERKESSIA : Mr. Merab, is it possible to make a definition of the genocide? And is there a timeout for Genocides?

MERAB CHUKHUA : Genocide is considered to have been committed when more than 20 percent of the indigenous people or any denomination of any country were physically exterminated.

In the case of the Circassians, Russia exterminated at least 30 percent of the total population and forcibly deported 50 percent, this means that crimes against the Circassians were committed in the direction of genocide and ethnic cleansing.

Since the genocide of the Circassians has been officially recognized by the Circassian republics and the Parliament of Georgia, thus proving the fact of genocide and ethnic cleansing and Russia must be held accountable for the crimes committed. It is very important that all Circassians still feel like victims of genocide, so timeout is out of the question here.

INFO : What kind of responsibilities does a country have if it recognizes a genocide that it committed somewhere in history? What kind of gains will it bring to the people who were subjected to genocide?

M. C. : In case of recognition of the genocide committed by Russia, Russia will have to pay the compensations prescribed by international conventions; The practice of this kind exists in the modern world, a similar case being the German compensations for the Jewish genocide. Germany paid an adequate fee for this, a process ended several years ago. In addition, Russia must make a commitment to return the Circassians to their homeland, repatriants must return to the regions of their choice, i.e. from where they were forcibly deported.

INFO : What are the drawbacks of a people subjected to genocide asking their counterpart to recognize this genocide? What path should these people follow?

M. C. : There are unmistakable facts about the Circassian genocide that are available to anyone interested, interested sides. Crime is a fact, so the modern world is obliged to support the legitimate demands of the Circassians.

A good example of this is the case of Georgia, which voluntarily recognized the genocide of the Circassians and erected a memorial to the victims of the genocide in the city of Anaklia.

Circassians and all nations of the earth in general are not isolated from each other, from the ongoing global processes in the world, so the progressive part of humanity, especially Europeans, countries of Western civilization are obliged to stand by the Circassians. They have to continue the hearings in the European Parliament, which, unfortunately, has been removed from the Brussels agenda. I think it happened under Russian pressure and it is a very sad fact. It does not promote trust in the EU.

INFO : Can we say, "The democracy of a society-state that cannot face its past, especially crimes such as genocide, will be defective or democratization is not possible"? Do you think this has played a role in keeping the political character and foreign policy of the Russian Federation, even though the systems and leaders of the Russian Federation have changed?

M. C. : In the case of our period, Russian democracy is very weak, there is practically no democracy in this country, so I do not have the expectation that the Russian political elite will draw the appropriate conclusions.

The main postulate of Russia's foreign and domestic policy is brute force, a policy of force far removed from the principles of humanism. Until Russia realizes the Circassian problems and considers them full citizens of its own country, my belief in its democracy is zero.

In general, Russia views national minorities, especially the authoritarian regime of Putin, as slaves who are obliged to obey the demands of the Russian state.

Russia must either become a democratic state, otherwise it will disintegrate into chaotic regions, which is a very bad scenario for the world. However, we, the Caucasian peoples, must prepare for both options today.

INFO : The Georgian state officially recognized the Circassian Genocide. We thank the State of Georgia for this and once again you for preparing the file. How would this contribute to Circassians' telling to the world about the Genocide? What can be built on it? What to do?

M. C. : Georgia's recognition of the Circassian genocide is an event of historical significance that confirmed what was already known to the Circassians.

However, it is the recognition of genocide by Georgia that opens up great prospects, as Circassian activists are given the chance to apply to the Western states for recognition of genocide as Georgia's partner countries. I think the Georgian recognition has renewed the feeling of Circassian genocide in the Baltic countries, maybe in Poland and other European capitals ...

INFO : There are those who think "It is not possible to impose the Circassian Genocide in the Russian Federation, do not try in vain, look ahead"? Do the activities of narrating and introducing the genocide to the world have positive and negative effects on the construction of identity and the future?

M. C. : In this regard, you will answer that pessimists can not create history, they are slowing down its development.

In nature, everything is changeable, Russia will change as well; None of the pessimists thought on December 21, 1991, that the world would wake up on December 22, 1991 without the Soviet Empire.

By the way, Gorbachev's Russia was much more democratic than Yeltsin's or Putin's. However, partial democracy and a lack of national policy made the Soviet Union lose its imperial system, especially the role of the April 9 events in Tbilisi and the uncompromising national movements of the Baltics.

The right steps taken in the Circassian direction always make sense...

INFO : And there are some people, who say; “The US wanted Georgia to recognize the Circassian Genocide. His intention is to squeeze the Russian Federation." You surely know better: Why did the Georgian State recognize the Circassian Genocide after 2008?

M. C. : In 2008, Georgia experienced what had been repeatedly done against Circassians, Chechens, and Ingushs in the Caucasus. The actions of the leaders of the Georgian state in the direction of the Caucasus region became more adequate with the Russian aggression in 2008.

We have always had a dialogue with the Circassians. What was done in 2011 was discussed in 1991, when President Zviad Gamsakhurdia agreed in the meeting of representatives of the Circassian diaspora to assist Georgia in the process of returning Circassians to their homeland.

My principled opinion is that Georgia cannot exist in the region without close relations with Circassians, Ingush, Chechens, Dagestanians and Ossetians. Moreover, Georgia is obliged to create a free tribune for the Caucasian peoples, since only Georgia is an independent state among the Caucasian peoples, the other peoples of the North Caucasus are still occupied by the Russian Empire.

So, in 2008, Georgia acted correctly, in the vital interests of the country, and was guided by the principle of Caucasian solidarity. As for the United States, on the contrary, this superpower state, as a rule, avoids the policy of drastic steps...

INFO : Likewise, there are those who say, "Georgia recognized the Circassian Genocide in order to disrupt Circassians and Abkhazians." Does Georgia have such an expectation?

M. C. Such a view is a continuation of the Russian narrative only, as Georgia's friendly relations with the Circassians are aimed at a far-reaching relationship, and Georgia has finally realized that the Circassian factor has a positive content within the Abkhaz-Georgian dialogue.

The correct format is to say that Georgia needs the support of the Circassians in the Abkhazian direction; In other words, Georgian-Circassian good-neighborly relations play only a positive role in the dialogue with Abkhazians.

By the way, I am working intensively for Georgia to recognize the Abkhazian genocide committed by the Russians. As you know, Abkhazians have already done it unilaterally.

INFO : What kind of rights do Circassians gain in Georgia by recognizing the Circassian Genocide and giving Circassians the status of "People in Exile"? For example, is it possible for Circassian Youth to get university education, residence and even citizenship in Georgia? How?

M. C. : By recognizing the genocide of the Circassians, Georgia has activated the Circassian theme in the world, but Georgia will not be able to grant the status of a Circassian "People in Exile", which needs Western support at the UN. Circassian youth have received university education in Georgia many times, and many Circassians have received residency and citizenship in Georgia; The process is valid.

INFO : Today, Circassians have 3 Republics (two of them are together with Karachay Balkars) on their historical homeland Circassia. That the Russian Federation gave Circassians the right to organize such political institutions means that the genocide is compensated and the problem is solved?

M. C. : Everything that is being done in Circassia today by the Kremlin should be evaluated as cosmetic actions only. The three Circassian republics are also a continuation of the policy of genocide only when everything is persecuted in Circassian, including the Circassian language and religion.

A regime of continuous dialogue with the Karachay-Balkarians and even with the Russian population in historical Circassia is necessary, I think it is possible to cooperate in this field.

INFO : The intellectuals of the Russian Federation do not like to talk about some crimes of the Russian Federation. They hardly question the official history. What do you think, what is the reason for this? Do you think this attitude complicates the democratization of the Russian Federation?

M. C. : Of course, the Kremlin controls and tries to totally control the intellectuals, but the fact that "the intellectuals of the Russian Federation do not like to talk about some crimes in the Russian Federation" does not mean that the whole of Russia thinks so; No, I personally know many Russians who support the Circassian movement and its activists, they often express this opinion loudly at conferences.

These persons are against the official history and act like General Raevsky, who in the form of an official report refused to participate in the Circassian genocide.

INFO : Could the confrontation of Circassians with their past contribute to the democratization of both their own society and the Russian Federation?

M. C. : As soon as the Circassian society is united, the more results we will be able to have in all directions.

INFO : What do you and Georgia intend to do more in order to tell to the Russian Federation and the world about the Circassian Genocide? What do you think Circassians should do?

M. C. : In that time I participated in all Circassian events in Georgia, wrote a report and then book on the Circassian genocide and prepared a draft text of recognition, which was adopted by Georgian Parliament.

Georgia continues to cooperate in the Circassian direction, as evidenced by the activities of the Circassian Cultural Center around the world.

To the Circassians, my dear friends, I wish unity and fruitful co-operation for the revival of the nation and freedom. This requires planned work within the framework of a unified Circassian project ...

INFO : You had a project to build an old-authentic "Circassian Village". Do you continue to work on this project?

M. C. : Regarding the project of building a "Circassian village", I can tell you that there is a readiness for its implementation and we have selected a place near Anaklia. Together we will be able to revive this project.

You must know, with the Circassian Elite we have done many good deeds together, so it will be in the future, history goes on.

Thank you very much Merab...

Çerkesya Hareketi Haber Merkezi