Estimates say that between 1 million and 1.5 million people Circassian people were killed in the genocide. Killing methods included impaling people and ripping open the bellies of pregnant women. This was mainly done to intimidate the surrounding population.
Forced migration
Painting showing Circassians trying to run away from the killers.
As many as 1 to 1.5 million Circassians were forced to run away from their homes; only around half of them survived, according to most sources.[6][7]
Most Circassians who were not killed in the genocide went to the Ottoman Empire.[8] According to Ottoman archives, by 1879, over a million people had migrated to the Ottoman Empire.[9] (However, nearly half died on Ottoman shores from diseases.[9]) If these numbers are correct, the Circassian genocide would be the largest genocide of the 19th century.[10]
A small number of Circassians remained in the Russian Empire. Records disagree on how many people still lived in Russia after the genocide:
According to official Russian records, it was 106,798 people
According to the 1897 Russian census, it was 150,000 people[11][12]
According to some Russian historians, it was 40,400 to 65,900 people[13]
Recognition
Circassian survivors in Turkey commemorating the genocide
As of 2023[update], Georgia is the only country to recognize that the Circassian genocide occurred.[14] Russia actively denies the Circassian genocide,[15][16][17] and classifies the events as a migration (Russian: Черкесское мухаджирство, lit. 'Circassian migrationism').
Circassians commemorate 21 May (the day the genocide began) every year as the Circassian Day of Mourning.[18] On the other hand, some Russian nationalists in the Caucasus region celebrate the day yearly as a "holy conquest day".
On 21 May, Circassians all over the world protested against the Russian government, especially in cities with large Circassian populations (such as Kayseri and Amman) and in other large cities like Istanbul.[19][20]
Shenfield, Stephen D. (August 1999). "The Circassians: A forgotten genocide?". The Massacre in History(PDF). Retrieved November 16, 2024.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
↑Richmond 2013, p. 132 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFRichmond2013 (help): "If we assume that Berzhe's middle figure of 50,000 was close to the number who survived to settle in the lowlands, then between 95 percent and 97 percent of all Circassians were killed outright, died during Evdokimov's campaign, or were deported."
↑Rosser-Owen 2007, p. 16 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFRosser-Owen2007 (help): "with one estimate showing that the indigenous population of the entire north-western Caucasus was reduced by a massive 94 percent."
↑Karpat 1985, p. 69. sfn error: no target: CITEREFKarpat1985 (help)
↑Levene, Mark (2005). "6: Declining Powers". Genocide in the Age of the Nation-State Volume II: The Rise of the West and the Coming of Genocide. 175 Fifth Avenue, New York NY 10010. pp. 300, 301. ISBN1-84511-057-9.
↑Richmond 2013, back cover. sfn error: no target: CITEREFRichmond2013 (help)
↑Leitzinger, Antero (October 2000). "The Circassian Genocide". The Eurasian Politician. No. 2. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
