An international conference on "The Circassian Genocide in the Context of History and Contemporary Politics" was held in the Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas. Press Center of the Circassian Movement - Infocherkessia reports.
Following the conference, Circassian representatives from various countries presented Lithuania with an official document calling for recognition of the Circassian genocide and the establishment of long-term solidarity with the Circassian people.
The conference emphasized that Circassians living in the Russian Federation are subject to severe pressure on their language, cultural, and identity; Circassian education is systematically curtailed; the right to return is regularly blocked; and young people are persecuted and detained for political reasons.
The OSCE Vancouver Declaration and the UN framework for the rights of indigenous peoples were highlighted as key pillars supporting the Circassians' right to self-determination. Circassian representatives formulated their demands to the Sejm in four points:
- Recognition of the Russian Empire's policy towards the Circassians from 1763 to 1864 as genocide,
- Affirmation of the Circassians' right to return to their historical homeland and to self-determination,
- Support for international investigation and recognition processes,
- Strengthening political, cultural, and academic solidarity with the Circassian people.
It should be noted that to date, the Circassian genocide has been recognized by four countries, two autonomous states within the Russian Federation: the Republic of Adygea and the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria, and two independent states: Georgia and Ukraine.
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