Request on Releasing Mr. Mikheil Saakashvili

As the Council of United Circassia, we sent and appeal to Mrs. Salome Zurabishvili, President of the Republic of Georgia with request on releasing Mr. Mikheil Saakashvili.

 

"Dear Mrs. President Salome Levanovna Zurabishvili,

Circassians scattered all over the world and living in different countries are addressing you with a request to show a high example of humanity within the powers provided by the Constitution by releasing the convicted Third President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili. Without in any way questioning the quality of the Georgian judicial system or the justice of its decisions, we would like to note that when considering a case, any court focuses on one or more episodes from the biography to determine the degree of guilt and the measure of responsibility. However, the activities of Mikheil Saakashvili as head of state, it seems to us, if it does not atone for individual deeds, then at least transfers him into the category of people deserving indulgence.

It was Mikheil Saakashvili who in 2011 signed the decision of the Parliament of Georgia on the recognition of the genocide of the Circassian people. This created a precedent, which, in turn, gives us hope for the world community to recognize the actions of the Russian Empire as an act of genocide and for the rehabilitation of the Circassian people. Thanks to the third President of Georgia, our exiled people, deprived of their homeland, have regained international legal subjectivity and the hope of returning.

The second step, which made it possible to consider Georgia not as an adversary, but as a neighbor and partner in a common cause, was the opening of the country's borders for visa-free visits by citizens of the Russian Federation living in the North Caucasus. It should be noted that this was a complete surprise for us since in 2011 Georgia and the Russian Federation were formally at war. It seemed incredible that for the sake of us, the Circassians, as well as other peoples of the North Caucasus - Balkars, Dagestanis, Ingush, Karachais, Chechens, Ossetians - Georgia went into a certain confrontation with the Russian authorities.
Return of hope to the Circassians and thousands of lives saved in Russia and Ukraine - this is the long-term result of Mikheil Saakashvili's actions.

You, as the Head of the Georgian state, can immediately stop political strife by your decision, based both on constitutional law and political expediency; both on the principles of universal humanism and Christian morality.

As Circassian nation, we kindly request Mr. Mikheil Saakashvili to be released.

With hope for wisdom, humanity and further strengthening of friendly ties between our peoples.
Respectfully,

​

Kenan KAPLAN
Chairman of the Council of United Circassia    

 

Selçuk BAĞLAR
Vice Chairman of the  Council of United Circassia    

​

Turgay TUMA
Vice Chairman of the Council of United Circassia

​

Dr. Mustafa CANBEK
Secretary General of the Council of United Circassia    

Kase KIK
Advisor to the Chairman of the Council of United Circassia"