Turkish president recalls ‘Circassian Exile’ tragedy

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on May 21 remembered the deportation of Circassian people 154 years ago by the Russian empire.

“On the 154th year of the ‘Circassian Exile,’ I wish mercy from Allah upon my Circassian brothers and sisters. We have not forgetten this tragedy and we never will,” said Erdoğan in his remembrance message posted on his official Twitter account.

Nearly 1.5 million Circassians were expelled from the Caucasus region to the east of the Black Sea when it was overrun by Russia in 1864. Some 400,000-500,000 are believed to have died.