Tweet
THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE END OF THE CAUCASUS WAR
Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
May 22 2014
22 May 2014 - 10:06am
By Vestnik Kavkaza
This year the 150th anniversary of the end of the Caucasus War is
being marked. The peacemaking treaty which brought an end to the
war that had been ongoing for 60 years was signed on May 21 (June 3)
1864 in the Circassian village of Kvaabe. Today various view on the
period exist, but the majority of experts are sure that the Russian
presence in the Caucasus contributed to establishing peace there,
even though it was fragile.
Victor Sadovnichy, President of the MSU, told Vestnik Kavkaza that
"the Russian state was undergoing a process of establishment at that
period; many nations, ethnic groups which lived close to the center
of Russia expressed a desire to be together with Russia. This wasn't
the demand of a separate leader; it was the demand of common people
as a response to the challenges of development. It was a demand of
all the leaders and intelligentsia of the Caucasus countries; and the
people are wonderful, they have original cultures, beautiful lands
and nice people. Today they say that they will never separate from
Russia willingly; and we are happy to live in a multinational state."
Vladimir Tolstoy, director of the memorial museum of "Yasnaya Polyana",
great-great-grandson of Leo Tolstoy, told Vestnik Kavkaza that,
"unfortunately, the Caucasus wars had never had an end. It is a real
hot spot. So, when we have a date which is marked as an end of any
war, it is a hope that someday all wars will be over. The Caucasus is
very important for the geopolitical history of the world, not only
for Russia. Everything that happens in the Caucasus is specifically
significant for international historic processes. As for me, the
Caucasus is a place where my great-great-grandfather began to write.
He loved, knew, and understood the Caucasus. Perhaps his best works
are directly connected with the Caucasus."
Vyacheslav Nikonov, chairman of the State Duma Committee for Education,
told Vestnik Kavkaza that "the Caucasus War is one of the most
important events in Russian history. It was started for idealistic
reasons. For centuries the Armenians, the Georgians had been asking
"a white tsar" to protect them; and Russia was involved in the war
to save the Georgians from Turkish and Persian oppression.
Russia got a serious war, as it stirred up the complex world of
the North Caucasus, which was on the supply route to the army in
Transcaucasia. It was an awful war, great losses; and Russia didn't
want it, but couldn't withdraw. And the Caucasus peoples couldn't
withdraw either. Even today we are overcoming the consequences of
the events. And many conflicts in the Caucasus are a consequence of
that war. Not all wounds have healed. But I am sure that, as Russia
is becoming a conscious power, as the people of the Caucasus develop
economically, politically, morally, the unity of the Russian and
other nations which live in the Caucasus will improve."
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/articles/politics/55517.html
From: A. Papazian
Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
May 22 2014
22 May 2014 - 10:06am
By Vestnik Kavkaza
This year the 150th anniversary of the end of the Caucasus War is
being marked. The peacemaking treaty which brought an end to the
war that had been ongoing for 60 years was signed on May 21 (June 3)
1864 in the Circassian village of Kvaabe. Today various view on the
period exist, but the majority of experts are sure that the Russian
presence in the Caucasus contributed to establishing peace there,
even though it was fragile.
Victor Sadovnichy, President of the MSU, told Vestnik Kavkaza that
"the Russian state was undergoing a process of establishment at that
period; many nations, ethnic groups which lived close to the center
of Russia expressed a desire to be together with Russia. This wasn't
the demand of a separate leader; it was the demand of common people
as a response to the challenges of development. It was a demand of
all the leaders and intelligentsia of the Caucasus countries; and the
people are wonderful, they have original cultures, beautiful lands
and nice people. Today they say that they will never separate from
Russia willingly; and we are happy to live in a multinational state."
Vladimir Tolstoy, director of the memorial museum of "Yasnaya Polyana",
great-great-grandson of Leo Tolstoy, told Vestnik Kavkaza that,
"unfortunately, the Caucasus wars had never had an end. It is a real
hot spot. So, when we have a date which is marked as an end of any
war, it is a hope that someday all wars will be over. The Caucasus is
very important for the geopolitical history of the world, not only
for Russia. Everything that happens in the Caucasus is specifically
significant for international historic processes. As for me, the
Caucasus is a place where my great-great-grandfather began to write.
He loved, knew, and understood the Caucasus. Perhaps his best works
are directly connected with the Caucasus."
Vyacheslav Nikonov, chairman of the State Duma Committee for Education,
told Vestnik Kavkaza that "the Caucasus War is one of the most
important events in Russian history. It was started for idealistic
reasons. For centuries the Armenians, the Georgians had been asking
"a white tsar" to protect them; and Russia was involved in the war
to save the Georgians from Turkish and Persian oppression.
Russia got a serious war, as it stirred up the complex world of
the North Caucasus, which was on the supply route to the army in
Transcaucasia. It was an awful war, great losses; and Russia didn't
want it, but couldn't withdraw. And the Caucasus peoples couldn't
withdraw either. Even today we are overcoming the consequences of
the events. And many conflicts in the Caucasus are a consequence of
that war. Not all wounds have healed. But I am sure that, as Russia
is becoming a conscious power, as the people of the Caucasus develop
economically, politically, morally, the unity of the Russian and
other nations which live in the Caucasus will improve."
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/articles/politics/55517.html
From: A. Papazian