I'm curious what the Caucasian sentiment is toward the second Trump administration. Particularly with regard to Trump's erratic foreign policy, attempts to negotiate a Syunik/Zangezur corridor deal, and the Iran war.
I'm well aware that there are multiple, very distinct nations and ethnic groups in the Caucasus, and probably a wide variety of opinions among each population.
The Circassian genocide is one of the most heinous historical examples of Russian imperialism.
In the 19th century, Russians invaded Circassia (formerly independent) and committed atrocities against the native population, including impalement, rape, and village burnings. Over 95% of Circassians were killed or deported, totalling an estimated 1.5 million deaths.
Yet despite broad scholarly agreement that Russia's treatment of Circassians constituted genocide, only Georgia and Ukraine have formally recognized it as such.
Recognizing such atrocities is the right thing to do. It respects victims, condemns perpetrators, and deters future violence. Of course, countries sometimes avoid recognizing genocides for geopolitical reasons. For example, some countries stay silent on the Armenian genocide to placate the Turks; there are other recent examples one could name.
The Baltic states, which share a history of Russian oppression, have little reason to hesitate on the Circassian genocide question. Their recognition would align with their own experiences and their solidarity with victims of Kremlin aggression. So... why haven't they already done so?