The Situation of Circassian Refugees from Syria in the Republic of Adygea in 2012-2019

With the start of the civil war in Syria in 2011, the number of refugees from Syria increased around the world, however, slightly affected the numbers of asylum seekers and people with refugee status in Russian Federation. From 2012 to 2018, there were only 2 people from Syria with refugee status. Nevertheless, more often refugees from Syria were legalized as labor migrants and/or turned to the help of human rights defenders and received temporary asylum, particularly for a one-year period. By comparing the drastic increase of Syrian refugees’ number, there were 13 people seeking temporary asylum in 2012; increased to 1,158 in 2014, and finally to 1,924 people in 2015. However, the author’s research noted a non-standard category of refugees: about 3,000 Syrian Circassians arrived in Russia in different years and about 1,000 of them left Russia to go to the European Union countries. These Syrian Circassians used the so-called repatriation technique [which is the process of returning an asset or homeland] to legalize in their historical homeland, where is in the modern Republics of Adygea and Kabardino-Balkaria in the North Caucasus in Russia. These territories in the historical context, the Circassian people inhabited the territories of these republics until the 19th century, and after more than a 50-year long war [The Caucasian War between 1817–1864 and the capture of the North Caucasus by the Russian Empire, they were forced to flee to the Ottoman Empire. Then part of the Circassian diaspora entered the population of modern Turkey, Syria, Jordan and some countries in the Balkans, such as Kosovo. However, in contemporary times, numerous representatives of the Circassian diaspora are moving to live in their historical homeland. Syrians make up the majority in this stream due to the war that pushed them to repatriate. This research is based on the methods of observation included in the Republic of Adygea in Russia, in-depth interviews and descriptive statistics. This paper demonstrates how the social solidarity of the small Circassian population in the Republic with respect to Syrian Circassians who fled from the war. The social solidarity among Circassians happens at different levels, such as the help of local NGOs, the creation of a State Commission in the Republic for assistance to the Syrians, cooperation with the federal authorities of Russia, humanitarian assistance from wealthy countries, neighboring republics of the North Caucasus. This paper introduces the social cooperation, solidarity and assistance take place between Circassian in the Republic of Adygea in Russia and Syrian Circassians who fled from the war and seek refuge in their historical homeland.