KBR Circassian activists supported idea of single name for the nation

At the upcoming census, the Circassians living in Russia should register themselves as a single nation, since they have a common language and one culture, Beslan Khagazhei and Aslan Beshtoev, activists of Circassian organizations in the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR), has stated. Circassians are territorially divided, and the absence of a single name does not allow perceiving them as a single nation, Madina Khakuasheva, a philologist, believes.

"In his appeal 'One nation – one name', Ali Aslanov is addressing the Adyg (Circassians) living in the Russian Federation. He informs that the population census will take place from April 1 to 30, 2021 ... and for Adygs three questions will have important political significance: what languages are you speaking; your mother tongue and your nationality," the blogger of the "Caucasian Knot" named Woman's View from Nalchik wrote.

Beslan Khagazhei, the head of the NGO "Paryt", believes that many are hindered by the inertia of thinking. "People are used to being Kabardians or Adygs, and suddenly they have to get registered as Circassians," he has explained.

Mr Khagazhei believes that it will be difficult to convince people in one generation, but over time we will all "come to this" and there will be one self-name. He noted that the name "Circassians" is popular abroad.