Russia fails to recognize 1880s Circassian genocide as Sochi Winter Olympics begin

Russia fails to recognize 1880s Circassian genocide as Sochi Winter Olympics begin
Russia fails to recognize 1880s Circassian genocide as Sochi Winter Olympics begin

Russia fails to recognize 1880s Circassian genocide as Sochi Winter Olympics begin

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The name Sochi is a Circassian word that means “the land between the sea” in the Circassian language. But many Circassians say they are not represented at this Olympics. That’s because the Russian government has refused to recognize the mass killing of Circassians in the 1800’s. The Circassian people were driven out of Sochi by the Czar’s armies, forced to relocate to Turkey, Jordan and Syria. Thousands died enroute and hundreds of thousands were murdered by the Czar’s army. Some Circassians have said the Olympic venues have been built over the mass graves of the Circassian people. Tamara Barsik, the communications director for the Circassian Cultural Institute and founder of the No Sochi 2014 campaign, tells us about the history of the Circassian people. (Photo: Flickr/May 21 1864)