The Consequences of Russian Imperial Policy in the North Caucasus and the Historical Tragedy of the Circassians

The history of the Crimean Tatars remains one of the key intersections of memory, sovereignty, and security dilemmas in contemporary international politics. Speaking on May 18 during the anniversary of the deportation of the Crimean Tatars, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the deportation carried out by the Soviet authorities in 1944 as “an open act of genocide against the Crimean Tatar people.” He stated that thousands of people died during the deportation and in the years that followed.

As Russia’s relations with the West continue to deteriorate sharply, the Kremlin is increasingly searching for political and economic support beyond Europe. One of the platforms for this effort has become the international forum “Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum,” held in the city of Kazan, which Moscow has transformed from a purely economic gathering into an important element of its broader geopolitical strategy.

Russia intends to preserve and strengthen its influence in the South Caucasus despite growing pressure from the West and the gradual weakening of Moscow’s position in the region following the war in Ukraine. This conclusion follows from an interview given by Mikhail Kalugin, director of the Fourth CIS Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, to the Russian state news agency TASS.

Military orchestra marches once again echoed across Red Square while Soviet Victory banners fluttered above the Kremlin walls. Yet Moscow’s May 9, 2026 Victory Day parade looked markedly different from previous years: fewer foreign leaders, less heavy military equipment, more soldiers returning from the war in Ukraine, and a visibly darker political atmosphere.