ABOUT THE CIRCASSIAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
A. QUESTIONS ABOUT PURPOSE AND POLICIES
1. What is the reason for officially establishing the CNA in the Netherlands in August 2024?
The reason for establishing the association in the Netherlands rather than in one of the places where Circassians live densely in the diaspora is to create a more productive working atmosphere that focuses solely on the benefit of the Circassian community, away from possible political influences.
Starting in June 2022, intensive discussions were held with dozens of NGOs and hundreds of Thamades over a period of three years. As a result of these discussions, the following view gained prominence: In order to invite representatives of our people to a unified organization through Circassian NGOs, it would be a more efficient method to draft a constitution and present it to the delegates at the first founding General Assembly Meeting. Therefore, CNA was officially established on August 28, 2024, in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. This legal preliminary procedure was carried out as a necessary first step.
The charter was registered in advance to ensure compliance with the laws of the Netherlands, which was chosen as the headquarters, and to avoid facing a rejection later on.
2. Why was CNA needed when there are many similar associations?
CNA was established to fulfill our community’s need for inclusive unity and effective representation by creating a platform where Circassian NGOs can cooperate through consensus. Since there is no association that conducts political work at the international level on behalf of the Circassian community, there is a need for CNA.
3. What objectives does CNA aim to achieve that distinguish it from existing associations?
CNA aims to undertake high-level initiatives with states, governments, parliaments, diplomatic missions, political parties, and international organizations with the purpose of defending the rights of the Circassian people and providing a secure environment in which they can best sustain their existence.
To identify the current situation of the Circassian people worldwide, create a comprehensive database by encouraging academic studies on priority issues, develop policies to correct our deteriorating demographic structure, establish communication channels with all countries and international organizations, especially related Caucasian peoples, and thus carry out strategic work to transform the Circassian national cause into a global human rights cause… To achieve these objectives, the Circassian National Fund will develop global projects such as the Circassian Media Group.
4. How will CNA collaborate with existing associations in different countries?
CNA aims to establish a global cooperation that will create synergy among Circassian NGOs worldwide by encouraging membership in existing associations to raise the political awareness of the Circassian people, organizing local, regional, and international seminars, workshops, conferences, and training programs, etc., to maximize its organizational power.
5. What policy will CNA adopt towards Russia?
As an independent international union organization, CNA opposes violence-based movements such as war and terrorism, racism, and religious and ideological discrimination.
CNA defends peace and adheres to the principles accepted by international treaties.
B. TECHNICAL QUESTIONS
6. Does CNA only accept associations as members?
No. In addition to associations, CNA accepts all Circassian civil society organizations such as foundations, federations, unions, etc. that embrace CNA’s purpose and working style as members. In addition to these legal entity members, individuals are also accepted as honorary members.
Honorary Members are individuals accepted by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Board of Directors for their outstanding achievements in CNA’s areas of activity.
7. Can only member associations participate in CNA meetings?
No. Any civil society organization that supports CNA’s mission of unity and solidarity among the peoples of the North Caucasus, with its purpose and working style, can participate in meetings as an observer, with the recommendation of the Board of Directors and the approval of the General Assembly, and can express opinions and make recommendations, but cannot vote.
8. Is the CNA funded by any country or international organization?
Absolutely not! The CNA’s financial resources consist solely of the following: annual membership fees paid by members, donations, bequests, and organizational revenues.
9. How and for how long are CNA Board members elected?
The CNA Board of Directors is determined by delegates sent by member associations to the General Assembly Meeting, according to the following distribution, in accordance with the principle of fair representation:
It consists of 11 members: 4 from Turkey, 1 from Syria, 1 from Jordan, 2 from Europe, 1 from Kfar Kama, 1 from Canada, and 1 from the United States.
The CNA Board of Directors, consisting of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and other members, is elected for a term of 2 years.
10. Which countries are represented by delegates at the CNA General Assembly?
The 1st General Assembly Meeting held in Istanbul on October 5, 2025, was attended by 65 delegates and 12 observer members representing 31 NGOs from 7 countries. From its first term onwards, CNA works to include new NGOs as well as honorary members.
11. Who founded the CNA?
One of the six working groups formed at the 3rd International Circassian Conference held in Istanbul on June 24-27, 2022, was the “Working Group for the Establishment of a World Circassian Organization in the Diaspora.” The preparatory work was completed based on the draft constitution created by this group with the contributions of 25 different Circassian NGOs.
The establishment of CNA was carried out by the delegates of member NGOs participating in the 1st General Assembly Meeting held in Istanbul on October 5, 2025. However, the members who served on the Interim Management Board, which carried out the preparatory work until the founding general assembly meeting, are as follows:
1. Faruk Arslandok, İstanbul, Türkiye
2. Orfan Shouakar-Stash, Canada
3. Nour Aldin Omar Mahmoud, Texas, USA
4. Mohammad Hamzouq, Amman, Jordan
5. Emine Arslandok Sezgin, İstanbul, Türkiye
6. Günsel Şurdum Avcı, İstanbul, Türkiye
7. Nusret Baş, İstanbul, Türkiye
8. Faidi Omar Mahmoud, Nuremberg, Germany
9. Zakaria Nabso, (Israel) Kfar Kama
10. Cemil Görücü, Kayseri, Türkiye
12. Who serves on the CNA Board of Directors?
The following members were elected to the Board of Directors at the 1st CNA General Assembly Meeting held in Istanbul on October 5, 2025:
1. Op. Dr. Nusret Baş, President, Türkiye
2. Prof. Dr. Faidi Omar Mahmoud, Vice President, Germany
3. Prof. Dr. Fethi Güngör, Secretary General, Türkiye
4. Prof. Dr. Orfan Shouakar-Stash, Treasurer, Canada
5. Nour Aldin Omar Mahmoud, Member, USA
6. Zakaria Nabso, Member, Israel – Kfar Kama
7. Savvas Tamis (Sabah Omar Tam), Member, Netherlands
8. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nilgün Elam, Member, Türkiye
9. Dts. Elbruz Umut Aksoy, Member, Türkiye
10. Majd Abacı, Member, Türkiye
11. Mumin Hacıbayram, Member, Türkiye
The following delegates were elected to the CNA First Term Audit Committee:
1- Atty. İlhan Temel, Turkey
2- Tina Abzakh, Sweden
3- Atty. Behice Tuğçehan Erdoğan, Turkey
C. QUESTIONS REGARDING COMMENTS MADE ON SOCIAL MEDIA
13. In what sense does CNA use the name “Circassian”?
CNA uses the name “Circassian,” which appears in its name and charter, as the globally recognized name for the “Adyghe” community, which continues to exist today in three separate republics in Central and Western Caucasus and in the diaspora.
14. Can representatives of other Caucasian peoples besides the Adyghe be members of CNA?
As CNA is an international union organization specific to the Circassian Nation, representatives of other Caucasian peoples can be part of CNA as observer members, not founding members. CNA has adopted as a fundamental policy to cooperate with the organizations of other Caucasian peoples and to develop qualified relations with all Caucasian peoples.
15. Why does CNA only accept associations as members?
The CNA accepts all civil society organizations, including associations, federations, confederations, foundations, international unions, etc., as members with legal personality. There is no obstacle from the CNA’s perspective; it is sufficient that the applicant organization’s charter is compatible with membership in an international union association and that there are no regulations to the contrary.
In addition, CNA accepts honorary members with natural person status upon the recommendation of the Board of Directors and approval by the General Assembly for their exceptional achievements in CNA’s areas of activity.
16. Why was CNA established in the diaspora rather than in the homeland?
CNA was established in the diaspora, in a European country (Netherlands) where democratic culture is institutionalized, in order to operate more freely, free from potential pressure from countries involved in the Circassian issue.
17. Why did CNA not accept founding members from the homeland?
Launched as a diaspora union organization, CNA is still in its founding phase and will gladly consider membership applications from Circassian NGOs from all regions of the world, starting with the homeland of the Caucasus.
18. Is CNA an anti-Russian movement?
Absolutely not! CNA is an independent international union organization that opposes violence-based movements such as war and terrorism, racism, and religious and ideological discrimination. It defends peace and adheres to principles accepted by international treaties. It aims to develop relations with all countries around the world, primarily Russia, that benefit the Circassian people, and to protect and strengthen the rights of the Circassian nation through peaceful activities.
19. Is an approach such as “CNA has been established, Circassian NGOs should come and become members” appropriate?
It is definitely not appropriate. CNA has never adopted such a statement and has always preferred to proceed by making decisions together. After a long consultation process, it announced the first general assembly meeting held in Istanbul on October 5, 2025, with this sensitivity as the “CNA Founding General Assembly Meeting.”
20. Is it true that most of the founders cannot read or write Circassian?
This claim is unfounded, as CNA meetings have been conducted in Circassian from day one. It is true that the founding members of CNA and the members of the Board of Directors elected on October 5, 2025, despite all of them being able to speak Circassian, did not know how to read and write Circassian fluently using the Cyrillic alphabet. This fact can be seen as an indication of how dangerous the cultural erosion we must confront as a nation has become.
21. Will CNA’s work harm relations with the homeland and the idea of return?
On the contrary, CNA, which will serve to make relations with the homeland clear and sustainable, aims to study the issue of return in all its dimensions and to present a new model of return based on realistic grounds.
22. How can unity be achieved among Circassians worldwide when Circassians in Turkey have not yet united?
The CNA’s fundamental goal is to establish a realistic global Circassian unity by examining previous local, regional, and global unity initiatives, each worthy of separate consideration and grateful remembrance, in accordance with scientific criteria. This goal can be achieved through the sincere efforts of the founding and observer member associations and honorary members. New discourses on peace, democracy, and human rights emerging in Turkey, the region, and the world will facilitate the achievement of this goal.
23. How can we explain the fact that many organizations did not join the CNA despite the call for participation?
Like any new initiative, the CNA will develop and spread step by step. Some of the invited NGOs operate not only specifically for the Circassian people but for the Caucasian peoples in general, some have charters that are not suitable for joining an international association, some have not yet held their general assembly meetings and therefore cannot make a decision and respond, while others prefer to wait until the CNA is established and observe its activities for a while before deciding on participation. Therefore, we should not be surprised that some organizations did not respond positively to the initial call.
24. Was CNA established as a competitor or alternative to ICA?
No. Due to its structure and style, CNA is not a competitor or alternative to International Circassian Association. On matters it believes will benefit the Circassian people, it brings project-based cooperation with International Circassian Association (ICA) to the agenda of the CNA General Assembly for decision.
25. Isn’t the name CNA a bit too ambitious? Has a minimum level of representation authority been obtained to use this name?
This name (Circassian National Assembly), chosen with the goal in mind, is inspired by the ancient “Xase (Assembly)” tradition in the Circassian community, where important issues are negotiated and binding decisions are made. The name of the organization, which aims to negotiate the social events, problems, and demands of the Circassian nation on a global scale, to strengthen its representation and legitimacy by ensuring the participation of all Circassian NGOs around the world over time, and to effectively implement the decisions it takes to preserve the Circassian community’s respected place in the great human family forever, is consistent with its mission and vision.
On Sunday, October 5, 2025, in Istanbul, 65 delegates representing 26 Circassian civil society organizations from 7 countries participated in the Founding General Assembly Meeting of the Circassian National Assembly (CNA) held at the Altunizade Culture and Arts Center. Additionally, 12 observer members representing 5 civil society organizations with observer member status had the opportunity to present their views and recommendations throughout the two-day sessions. This intense interest at such an early stage can be seen as an important indicator that CNA will be accepted within the Circassian community and its NGOs.
