Non-state groups claiming a right of return Circassians Circassians are an indigenous ethnic group originating from the northwestern Caucasus. Throughout the 19th century, the Russian Empire adopted a policy to eradicate Circassians from their ancestral homelands, pushing most surviving Circassians into the diaspora.Wiley, Mason. Circassian Right of Return: “Putin The Terrible or Putin The Enlightened?. American University Washington College of Law 2015. Many Circassians have expressed an interest in returning to Circassia, particularly Circassians fleeing the conflict in Syria.
noN-STate GrOupS CLaIMInG a riGht oF retuRN cirCAsSians circASSians ArE an inDigeNoUS eTHnic grOUp OrigiNatING from The nOrthWesterN caUCASus ThrougHout thE 19Th cenTuRy tHE rUssIan empIRE adoPted a policy to EradICAte CiRcaSSIaNs FrOm ThEiR AnCEstrAl hoMElAnds PushinG MOsT surVIvINg ciRcasSIans iNto THe DiAspoRAwiley mason ciRCAssian right oF reTuRN “Putin tHE TerrIble or putiN tHe ENLighTeNEd aMericAn univERSITY WaShIngton colleGe of law 2015 many ciRcaSsians HavE expreSsed An iNtERest in returniNg to cIrcassIa pArticUlArly CiRcaSsIans FleeIng thE ConflicT iN syRia