Paul Goble
Staunton, June 12 – Circassian activists both in the diaspora and in the North Caucasus homeland have opposed a Moscow plan to require anyone seeking repatriation to know Russian, arguing that it is unconstitutional because Circassian is the state language in three federal subjects, Adygeya, Kabardino-Balkaria, and Karachay-Cherkessia.
Now, the nationalities ministry of Kabardino-Balkaria has joined them by calling on the Russian government to change the draft legislation so that those Circassians abroad who know Circassian will have the right to repatriate to these three republics (kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/412148 and zapravakbr.ru/index.php/30-uncategorised/1979-vlasti-kabardino-balkarii-otreagirovali-na-diskriminatsionnyj-zakonoproekt-o-repatriatsii-v-rf-vnesennyj-konstantinom-zatulinym).
What makes this development so important is that it is a sign that Circassian governments within the current borders of the Russian Federation are now animated by many of the same feelings as the Circassian diaspora and that they are prepared to line up with that diaspora against Moscow.
That would have been almost unthinkable earlier in Putin’s reign. That it is happening now is a sign that as he ages, Circassian governments are increasingly willing to stand up for their nations, a trend likely true in other non-Russian republics as well and one that will frighten the Kremlin but encourage national movements.
No comments:
Post a Comment