A march and rally to mark the end of the Caucasian War took place in Nalchik.
The march in Nalchik marking the 162nd anniversary of the end of the Caucasian War proceeded without incident; participants walked only on sidewalks. A rally and memorial prayer followed the march.
As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," residents of Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, and Adygea annually celebrate the anniversary of the end of the Caucasian War with memorial events. A memorial rally was held in Nalchik on May 20, and in the evening, activists gathered at the "Tree of Life" monument and lit 101 candles.
The Caucasian War, which lasted from 1763 to 1864, brought the Adyghe people to the brink of extinction. After the war and the mass deportation of the Adyghe to the Ottoman Empire, only a little over 50,000 remained in their homeland. Russian authorities have still not recognized the Circassian genocide during the war, according to a report from the "Caucasian Knot." The end of the war was marked by a parade of Russian troops in Krasnaya Polyana on May 21, 1864. This event is described in the "Caucasian Knot" article "Parade in Krasnaya Polyana. How Russia Broke Circassian Resistance."
Today, two mass events dedicated to the 162nd anniversary of the end of the Caucasian War were held in Kabardino-Balkaria.
The march along Lenin Avenue in Nalchik began at 10:00 a.m. About a thousand marchers walked along the entire avenue from the railway station to Concord Square, after which they joined the rally at the "Tree of Life" monument.
The march proceeded without incident; despite its large number, participants did not violate the rules or step onto the roadway, but moved along the sidewalk, a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.
The rally at the "Tree of Life" monument was traditionally opened by Mukhadin Kumakhov, Minister of Culture of Kabardino-Balkaria.
He gave the floor to Khauti Sokhrokov, head of the International Circassian Association.
May 21 is a tragic and simultaneously touching date for the Adyghe people of the world. "On this day, the bloodiest and longest war ended. 162 years have passed, but the wound still lingers. "As a result of the war, only 10 percent of the Adyghe people remained in their homeland; the rest found themselves in foreign lands," Sokhrokov said in his speech.
Sokhrokov went on to say that the memory of their fallen ancestors is honored by the Adyghe people all over the world on this day.
"Despite severe trials, the Adyghe people preserved their language and culture. In all countries where the Adyghe live, they are respected for their hard work and friendliness." Thousands of Adyghe compatriots have returned here, to their historical homeland, and harmoniously integrated into society,” he said.
Sokhrokov then emphasized that only in Russia do the Adyghe have their own statehood and “have all the conditions for development.”
Representatives of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic performed a memorial prayer. After which a minute of silence was declared. Flowers were then laid at the monument to the victims of the Caucasian War. Flowers were laid by members of the Kabardino-Balkarian government, headed by Prime Minister Aliy Musukov, representatives of public organizations, and citizens.
A year earlier, during a procession with Circassian flags dedicated to the 161st anniversary of the end of the Caucasian War, at least eight people were detained in Nalchik. They received from three to ten days of administrative arrest under the article on participation in an unauthorized protest and obstructing traffic. The only woman of the eight detained, Marina Kalmykova, was released after three days of arrest on May 25. Khusein Gugov, Zuber Euaz, Timur Nakhushev, Kazbek Mamikov, and Bashir Erokov were released on May 27, Idar Tsipinov and Beslan Gedgafov were released later. Timur Nakhushev and Zuber Euaz appealed the decisions of the Nalchik City Court; Kazbek Mamikov did not file an appeal after his arrest, considering it futile.