Reflections on "Putin's Challenge" Article

In the nineteenth century, Russia, in attempts to expand their borders, entered the territory of the Black Sea, with the Circassians the indigenous population. Upon trespassing into the Caucasus land, the Circassians warred with the Russians with enough ferocity to be regarded as a major threat, though this perception ultimately led to their downfall. Russia then expropriated the Circassians from their home by violent means often even resorting to murder. The event was traumatic in Circassian history, resulting in a loss of roughly three million Circassians and earning the title “first modern genocide” according to Al Jazeera (3). The Circassians never regained their home territory and continue to live scattered throughout the world. However, currently, Russia has chosen the city Sochi to host the Olympic Games; the city that houses the remains the Circassian capital as well as the scene that epitomized the devastation of the Circassian people. They regard the area religiously and to hold the Olympics at Sochi will deface one of the most significant locations of Circassian history. In order to have the Olympics in this particular location, Russia must defile remains buried beneath Sochi dirt, the remains of the warriors that fought in the Circassian war, dishonor the martyred of Circassian purpose, and neglect the 150th anniversary of the massive killings of Circassians. However, Russia ignores the existence of the Circassians as well as the history of the designated location for the Olympics. Regardless of the controversial nature of this situation, the reaction Russia has will determine the political route it will take. According to Jazeera, Putin “must extend human rights, dignity with full respect for identity, democratic representation and economic opportunities to all citizens” in order to become a transformed, more ethical country (5).

Bibliography

Jazeera, Al. "Putin's Challenge: The Circassians and the Winter Olympics." Yahoo. 4 April, 2012. Web.