On October 14, a permanent platform for the protection of the rights and freedoms of enslaved and occupied peoples, who are being methodically destroyed and oppressed by the Kremlin regime, was founded in Kyiv. The forum, at the invitation of the General Representation of the Government of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria in Ukraine, was attended by representatives of the peoples of Abkhazia, Adygea, Bashkortostan, Dagestan, Ingushetia, Crimea, Tatarstan, Cherkessia, and Ukrainian politicians.
In his speech, the head of the government of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, Akhmed Zakayev, emphasized that the Russian state can exist only as an empire, as a system of violence and suppression, or it cannot exist at all: “The true democratization of Russia will immediately lead to the falling away of the conquered peoples from it. That is, it will lead to the disintegration of Russia within its current borders. And the desire to keep the conquered peoples, i.e. attempts to preserve integrity, will inevitably lead to the curtailment of democracy. That is why democracy and Russia’s territorial integrity are incompatible. That is why any attempts to democratize Russia within its current borders are utopian. Only the creation of a national Russian state with the voluntary accession of those peoples who wish to live in this state gives the Russian people a chance to heal from imperialism.”
A representative of the people of Dagestan expressed Akhmad Akhmedov believes that only victory on the battlefield can bring true liberation to the occupied peoples: “We have our own pain, our own experiences, our own grief. We lost many ancestors in the wars against Russia. And we will do everything to defeat this terrible horde. We have a common enemy and I am sure that we will have a common victory.”
“We must do everything in our power to ensure that the republics of the North Caucasus gain their prosperity and freedom ,” said Shamil Albakov, a representative of Ingushetia. It is our people who should rule and govern our republics. Religion, culture, language, and history must be protected from Russia’s insane policies. The potential and resources that our peoples and our territories have will enable us to become modernized, self-sufficient and developed countries.”.
Daur Buava from Abkhazia emphasized: “Our task is to provide an alternative to the information that Russian propaganda brings to the people of Abkhazia. I want to show the people of Abkhazia the prospect of living in an open world. I really want the whole truth to reach Abkhazia, for people to open their eyes. I want to bring our youth to the world. I want our youth to have a chance to live in peace with Georgia, with other civilized countries. But not with Russia.”
Mirab Chukhua, representing Georgia, is convinced that a real victory over Russia is possible only after Ukraine’s victory: “Today, Ukraine is fighting and defending not only the rights of the Ukrainian state, but also the rights of the peoples of the Caucasus. And the situation in Chechnya, Ingushetia, and Georgia will change after Ukraine wins. And we have to support the Ukrainian victory. And if Ukraine succeeds as a paradigm of the new world that is being born before our eyes, I think that Caucasian unity and Caucasian independence will take place. And, of course, the Caucasian war, which has been going on for 300 years, will not end without Chechen freedom and independence. With the Ukrainian paradigm, a new Caucasian paradigm is emerging – without Russia in the Caucasus and on the Black Sea coast.”
Nafis Kashapov from Tatarstan called on all nations seeking independence to help Ukraine win:
“I want to appeal to the people of Russia. We need to help Ukrainians. We need to open a second front. We need to unite and help Ukrainians. The victory of Ukraine is the liberation of the national republics of Russia.”
Following the Forum, the participants adopted a Resolution that demonstrates the aspirations of the peoples occupied by Russia for freedom and independence.
