Activists point to unifying significance of Circassian Flag Day

The Circassian Flag Day consolidates the Adygs (Circassians) in Southern Russia and abroad, but this is primarily a merit of public organizations, not the authorities, the Circassian activists who had left Russia have indicated.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on April 25, residents of Adygea, Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia celebrate the Circassian Flag Day with festive concerts and exhibitions.

Almost all the events dedicated to the Circassian Flag Day, with the exception of those held in Adygea, are organized by public organizations or activists without authorities' involvement, Martin Kochesoko*, the head of the "Khabze" public organization, has explained.

"This day will be celebrated wherever Circassians live: in the Caucasus, in the regions where Circassians live, in Turkey, in the USA, in Europe, Israel and Jordan," he has stated.

In recent years, mass events in street have been prohibited, Mr Kochesoko* has added.

In the Caucasus, Circassian actions "for 20 years already have been held largely against authorities' wishes," Kase Kik, the plenipotentiary representative of the United Circassian Council in the United States and the chairman of the socio-political movement Circassian Congress of the Karachay-Cherkessian Republic (KChR).

He has explained that such actions "take the form of spontaneous phenomena due to the high level of self-awareness and national identity of the Circassian population."

He has emphasized that "Circassians are a highly organized and conscientious people." "Despite the fact that for the last 160 years our homeland [is under Russian control] and our people have been subjected [...] to exile ... We are united not only in the symbol of Circassia in the form of our flag, but also in the desire to find our homeland again," Mr Kik has stated.

*Included by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) into the register of foreign agents.