The Day of Remembranceof the Victims of Russian-Caucasian War Victims is celebrated on May 21, when the Russian-Caucasian was finally completed in 1864. Caucasians were defeated in the war, including Circassians, Abkhazians and Ubykhs. Traces of these peoples, their material culture and languages have in fact disappeared due to wars and Muhajirism.

After the war, in 1864-1877, majority of residents of the Caucasus Mountains was forcedly exiled. 80 000 Abkhazians were forced to leave their homeland, due to which almost the entire territory of Abkhazia was deserted. Muhajirism significantly contributed to the demographic problem in Abkhazia, which still remains an important problem. Victims of Muhajirism became Georgian Muslims too, mainly residents of today’s Autonomous Republic of Adjara and Samtskhe-Javakheti.

The Public Defender honors the memory of the victims of the Caucasian wars. It is necessary to properly analyze these events and their consequences, as well as their impact on present conflicts in order to prevent similar actions in the future. Proper assessment of these events by the governments and the international community, as well as taking active steps for the protection of peoples' rights, will promote peace and restoration of these peoples’ rights in the region.