Amateur historians discuss history of Caucasus

Nikolai Trapsh, head of the science laboratory for history and culture of Caucasus peoples of the North Caucasian Science Center of the Higher School of the Southern Federal University, has described changes the dialogue of amateur and professional historians of the Caucasus at the conference entitled ‘The Caucasian War of the 19th century: Realpolitik and ‘memory wars’’.

Trapsh said that stereotypes passed in three streams: family legends, folklore and regional historiographical traditions. They were supplemented by the Internet.

The historian noted that Abkhaz and Adygeya bloggers had disputes provoked by denial of the Circassian Genocide. Abkhazia admits the genocidal nature of forcing the Abkhaz population after the revolt of 1866 and during the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878, but refuses to admit it for the tragic events of the 1960s in the West Caucasus.

Another topic discussed is the Sadz and Jiget residents living between the Bzybi and Psou Rivers. Adygeya bloggers insist that Abkhaz historians are wrong about believing that the said residents belong to Abkhazia and use them as an excuse to expand borders towards Tuapse.