On 17 December 2025, in Vilnius, Aida Abdrakhmanova, Head of the Tatarstan Independence Committee, participated in and spoke at the international conference “The Circassian Genocide in the Context of History and Contemporary Politics,” held in the Constitutional Hall of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania.
In her speech, Aida Abdrakhmanova focused on Russian imperialism, emphasising that revanchism and endless conquests represent a persistent political tradition in which power is placed above law. She noted that the conquest and destruction of the Kazan Khanate in 1552 was one of the first major acts of aggressive expansion by Muscovy.
She highlighted the systemic nature of Russia’s assimilation policies, pointing out a sharp decline in the number of Tatar language speakers. According to official Russian census data, over the past decade, about one million people no longer report Tatar as their native language, which she attributed to deliberate political and cultural pressure.
Aida stressed that under the current conditions, restoring the linguistic and national identity of assimilated nations is virtually impossible, leading to further erosion of indigenous identities.
Drawing historical parallels, she reminded participants of the tragedy of the Circassian people, who endured the Caucasian War, ethnic cleansing, and mass exile. According to her assessment, these events laid the foundation for a repressive imperial model through deportations, demographic destruction, and the elimination of traditional social structures. She also pointed out that similar mechanisms were applied to the Baltic nations, including Lithuania, where the suppression of language, culture, and political rights was accompanied by repression and deportations.
According to Aida, Russia’s imperial approach has not disappeared and today manifests itself in the war against Ukraine, the annexation of Crimea, and hybrid pressure on the Baltic states. She noted that rhetoric about “historical territories” and “spheres of influence” merely masks old revanchism.
She expressed special gratitude to the Republic of Lithuania and the Seimas for recognising the 1944 deportation of the Crimean Tatar people as an act of genocide, calling this decision an important step toward restoring historical justice. In this context, she called for a legal assessment of the 19th-century deportation and exile of the Circassian people, with recognition of these acts as genocide under international law.
During the conference, the Committee for the Independence of Tatarstan, represented by its head, held a series of important meetings and established new international contacts expected to yield practical results. It was particularly emphasised that this marked one of the first instances in modern history where the issues of assimilation and the de facto occupation of the Republic of Tatarstan were raised in the Lithuanian Parliament.
At the conference, Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada deputy Oleg Pankevich delivered a strong and principled speech on Russian imperialism and the need to support nations subjugated by Russia. He also presented the book XII Bandera Readings: Involuntary Annexations, which included Aida Abdrakhmanova’s report on the national liberation struggle of the Tatar people.
Members of the League of Free Nations also attended the conference to support the Circassian people.
On this occasion, Aida Abdrakhmanova, on behalf of the Committee for the Independence of Tatarstan, signed an appeal to the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania calling for open recognition and investigation of the Circassian genocide (1763–1864) as an act of genocide, affirming the right of the Circassian people to return to their historical homeland, and supporting continued cooperation in diplomatic, legal, political, and other forms of engagement.
In conclusion, Aida stated that, in her view, Russian imperialism has not fundamentally changed and continues to threaten free nations. She emphasised that security is possible only through solidarity, and that long-term peace requires the de-imperialization and decolonization of Russiasand the establishment of independent, democratic states in its place.
The Tatarstan Independence Committee expresses its sincere gratitude to the entire Circassian diaspora, the Seimas (Parliament) of the Republic of Lithuania, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania for the invitation and the opportunity for the leader of our organization to speak.
Link to the video of Aida Abdrakhmanova’s speech on the YouTube channel of the Seimas of the
Republic of Lithuania:
https://www.youtube.com/live/z7vxHIyArSk?si=7MBJ5CVJczwGcERb
