Georgia Says Russia Committed Genocide in 19th Century

[Lars77]

Source: New York Times

TBILISI, Georgia — The Georgian Parliament voted Friday to recognize the 19th-century killings and deportations of ethnic Circassians by czarist Russia as genocide, a move that is likely to inflame tensions between the two countries.

Moscow is extraordinarily sensitive to any anti-Russian movements in the North Caucasus, a region on Russia’s southern border where it has been battling insurgents since the collapse of the Soviet Union. The declaration may also strengthen calls for a boycott of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, which the Circassians consider part of their homeland.

Relations between Georgia and Russia have remained hostile since a brief war in 2008, and Georgia recently made an effort to build ties with restive Caucasian ethnic groups in Russia. Last year, Georgia dropped visa requirements for residents of the North Caucasus, and it started First Caucasus News, a Russian-language satellite channel.

Friday’s vote was Georgia’s most assertive move yet, and lawmakers hailed the decision as historic. No other country has recognized the killing of Circassians as genocide.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/21/world/europe/21georgia.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

[Turbineguy]

1. I'd say they got more than even

by exporting Stalin.

[BOG PERSON]

5. stalin was not a georgian "export"

stalin was a force of nature!

[Rhiannon12866]

9. I agree.

I visited Soviet Georgia back in the '80s, with my grandmother, as part of a peace group. I was amazed at the number of statues of Stalin still there, all over. There was obviously no love lost between the Georgians and the Russians, especially when it was part of the USSR. We were told that the Georgians love Stalin "because he killed so many Russians..." x(

[Lars77]

15. The last Stalin statue was torn down a few years ago.

Georgians do NOT love Stalin.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Thank you for this post. Those of us who have been unaware will have a lot of research ahead.

Once a serious subject is introduced which has been ignored or buried entirely from common consciousness, it's time to start looking for the missing information.

Truly appreciate seeing your post. Recommend.

[Odin2005]

3. Russia has done a LOT of awful shit to North Caucusus ethnic groups,

It's really sad because these folks have unique cultural traditions and speak very quirky languages (Google the Abkhaz language, it will make you go WTF.)

[Keith Bee]

4. Who didn't?

:shrug:

[daleo]

6. It's true

Certainly most European countries, as well as the U.S., have plenty of baggage from the 19th century. Russia is hardly unique.

[pfitz59]

7. Just like US committed Genocide

aganst native tribes! it was business as usual back then!

[tabasco]

8. What next?

They gonna say the Pittsburgh Pirates suck?

[JVS]

10. Georgia is just bringing this up because they're mad that Russia prevented them from invading...

Abkhazia and Southern Ossetia in 2008.

[Lars77]

11. Bit simplistic isn't it? nt

[JVS]

13. No. The Georgians don't care about them, in fact if the Adyghe hadn't fled to Turkey...

in the 19th century to stay under the rule of Muslims, then Georgia would be giving them shit now just like they do the Abkhazians and Ossetians.

[Lars77]

14. One of my friends is a Georgian from Abkhazia. She has a differnet take on it.

Such as the "Abkhazians" with support from Russian troops etnically cleansing Abkhazia for Georgians, killing many.


But i'm sure they're all lies, right.

[Demeter]

12. It's the 21st Century, and It Has Enough Problems

No good reason to dig up the 200-year-old dead. What purpose is served here? To still up hate?

[dipsydoodle]

16. Its a queue

Some countries , including the USA , have yet to recognise the act of genocide by Turkey against the Armenians.