Russian senators visit Syrian Circassians

This week, Syrian deputies urged President Bashar Assad to postpone parliamentary elections dated for early May. They think it will give time for an implementation of democratic reforms. Despite some diplomatic progress, the situation in Syria is difficult for residents and national minorities, including those who came from the North Caucasus. Since late 2011 Syrian Circassians asked the Russian authorities to “save them from inevitable tragedy” and help in resettlement to the historic motherland.

In March the delegation of Russian senators visited Damascus. Returning to Moscow, the member of the Federation Council Committee for regulations and organization of parliamentary activity, Albert Kazharov, stated: “The opposition groups in Syria are deliberately create incentives for inter-ethnic and inter-confessional tensions to grow. The complexity of the socio-political situation causes great concern among the Circassian diaspora, as well as among other Russian citizens residing in Syria. The current humanitarian situation differs from one Circassian community to another, depending on the general situation in the region where each community is located. The situation within the Circassian community of Homs is very grave, as there are armed clashes there. The Circassian communities of Bayadd and Khaldeya regions find themselves in almost identical situations.There are some displaced persons from the zones of armed conflict in Homs who are members of the Syrian Circassian community. They find themselves in quite a difficult position and they addressed our delegation, asking to evacuate them back to Russia. Also a small number of Circassian families, not more than 200, expressed their desire to return to Russia permanently due to the worsening of living conditions in Syria. In general, these are Circassians who got their education in Russia, who have intense ties with Russia, who have relatives here and who find themselves in an extremely adverse situation in Syria.

Kazharov said: “The leaders of the Circassian community, the members of Circassian community, MPs and regular residents of Syria have expressed their support for Russia’s efforts in a peaceful settlement of the Syrian conflict more than once. They also expressed their hope that Russia won’t allow any foreign intervention in Syrian affairs. The situation with our compatriots in Syria in the context of all the external and internal processes related to this county has a very important political, humanitarian and moral dimension to it. Russia has taken up the responsibility of protecting its compatriots abroad. We have held a meeting with representatives of a Circassian charity organization in Damascus, and this organization includes representatives of all peoples of the North Caucasus living in Syria. We have also met with the Cirassian community from the Damascus suburbs, from Kunsei, there are 8,000 Circassians living there. All this information is based on data we got directly from them. Almost all the regions were represented at these meetings, apart from certain regions that couldn’t have been represented for obvious reasons. Access to the capital is partially restricted. I can tell you that Syrian people thank Russia for its support of the non-intervention position. Almost all those whom we’ve interviewed blame the current situation on the intervention of foreign forces in the conflict.”

Kazharov expressed his personal point of view on the situation in Syria: “We started our mission on March 17, and on this day I myself witnessed a blast that killed a lot of people. There were two bombings in Damascus, one right after the other. And of course all our respondents looked scared and concerned. Everyone wants peace; everyone wants to go back to their everyday lives. But my personal impression is that there’s no peaceful solution to this crisis.”

Kazharov reminded that: “Syrian Circassians found themselves far from their historical motherland against their will. They were allocated there by the Ottoman government. The diaspora that exists today in Syria – they initially were allocated to the Balkans by the High Porte. After the war, they were re-located to the region of the Golan Heights. After the war of the 1970s they had to move to Syria. Some of them chose other countries, of course, but the fact is that this Circassian community had to relocate four times in 150 years. But of course their desire to return to their historical Motherland isn’t only due to these endless relocations. Today they told us that they didn’t want to look like cowards who flee at the first sight of danger. The desire to return home was formulated in a number of addresses to the Soviet leadership during the Golan Heights conflict, but they remained unanswered. And you know, I have a good friend from Syria, he’s an Arab, but he had visited Kabardino-Balkaria a few years ago – and moved there with his family. So if this Syrian person could do that, why can’t the Circassians? Currently there’s certain work being done in this regard in Adygeya and Kabardino-Balkaria. Working and administrative groups for accepting repatriated compatriots are already created. There is a refugee adaptation center in Adygeya. Moreover, Russia has a similar experience of accepting returning compatriots from Yugoslavia. It is a positive experience, too. There’s a working commission in Kabardino-Balkaria, it takes up this issue and it is ready to accept a few dozens compatriots who’ll need help to adapt in Russia.”