Legally and internationally, the
Treaty of Belgrade of 1739 between Austria and Turkey provided for the recognition of the independence of Eastern Circassia (
Kabarda). Both the
Russian Empire and the
Ottoman Empire recognized it, and the great powers at the time witnessed the treaty. The
Congress of Vienna held in the period between 1814 and 1815 also stipulated the recognition of the independence of Circassia. In 1837, Circassian leaders sent letters to European countries requesting legal recognition. Following this, the
United Kingdom recognized Circassia.
[19][20]However, during the
Russian-Circassian War, the Russian Empire did not recognize Circassia as an independent region, and treated it as Russian land under rebel occupation, despite having no control or ownership over the region.
[21] Russian generals referred to the Circassians not by their ethnic name, but as "mountaineers", "bandits", and "mountain scum".
[21][22]
Although Circassia is the original
homeland of the
Circassian people, today most Circassians live in exile, following the
Circassian genocide.
[23][24][25][26]