The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, in their responses to human rights activists, said that the Circassians who suffered from the earthquake in Turkey have the right to obtain Russian citizenship on a general basis. There are no grounds for returning them to Russia and obtaining citizenship in a simplified manner. In addition, officials stated that Circassians wishing to return to Russia are required to know the Russian language.

Earlier, Circassian leaders from Kabardino-Balkaria, Adygea, Karachay-Cherkessia and Moscow appealed to the President of the Russian Federation. They cited as an example the residents of Ukrainian Donetsk and Lugansk, who were given Russian citizenship in a simplified manner even before the start of the SVO.

“It is obvious to us that the federal authorities of the Russian Federation do not want to perceive the grave consequences of the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria as a humanitarian catastrophe in which Russian compatriots, representatives of the peoples of the North Caucasus, suffered. The Russian authorities had to adopt a special resolution to help them. First of all, organize an evacuation for those who wish to return to their historical homeland, and then solve other issues related to teaching the Russian language, obtaining citizenship, etc.,” summed up the Kabardino-Balkarian Human Rights Center.