Circassians Propose New Independent Cross-Regional Group in the North Caucasus (The Jamestown Foundation)

On March 17, Circassian organizations in Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachaevo-Cherkessia unveiled plans to establish a new independent cross-regional organization. The move by Circassian activists followed an announcement by the government of Karachaevo-Cherkessia that it would shut down the republic’s Circassian organization, the Adyge Khase–Circassian Parliament. “The Circassians from different regions perceived the government attempt to shut down the organization with extreme pain,” said Timur Zhuzhuev, the head of the Adyge Khase youth group. “Many people wanted to come to Karachaevo-Cherkessia from Adygea and Kabardino-Balkaria, but the reasonable decision of the court has reduced the degree of tension, so only the delegation from Kabardino-Balkaria arrived.” Previously, the Adyge Khase–Circassian Parliament received an extension period to allow it to correct the alleged violations of the law. Karachaevo-Cherkessia’s justice ministry asked the organization to present, before April 7, documents proving the organization had corrected the infractions (Kavkazsky Uzel, March 19).

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