Attempted coup in Turkey not to increase number of repatriates, Circassian activists believe

The attitude of the Turkish authorities to the problem of repatriation of Circassians will not change after a failed military coup in the country, and at present, people should not expect any progress concerning the problem. This opinion was voiced by Circassian activists, interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

On July 15, the Turkish military men made an unsuccessful attempt of an armed coup. The Turkish-Georgian border has been closed for safety reasons.

In Turkey, the process of repatriation will not be launched under the current government, and the events of July 15 will have no effect on it. This is stated by sociologist Selchuk Balkar, a member of the public organization "Cherkesfed", who lives in the Turkish city of Kayseri.

Meanwhile, according to him, the failed coup will only strengthen the Erdogan's position, and that fact makes the prospect of repatriation even less possible.

Journalist Emuz Bayaz, a lecturer of the Circassian language at the public international Circassian association "Adyge Khase" in the Turkish city of Kahramanmaraş, believes that those people who really want to move to their historic homeland have a chance also under the Erdogan's ruling.

The problem of repatriation of Circassians will be urgent only in case if the Syrian scenario occurs in Turkey. This was noted by Dundar Gubek, a member of the organization "Adyge Khase" in Turkey.

After the Ataturk Airport was captured by military men, members of the "Çogulcu Demokrasi Parti" Party, most of whom were of Circassian origin, took to the streets of Istanbul and expressed their support for the government, reports Kenan Kaplan (Meretuko), Chairman of the "Çogulcu Demokrasi Parti" Party.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.