Parliament of Independence (Circassia)

The Circassian Parliament

Шъхьафитныгъэ Хасэ

Şhafitnığə Xasə
Parliament of Circassia
Variant of the Circassian flag used by the Parliament
Type
Type
History
Founded13 June 1861 (1861-06-13)
Disbanded21 May 1864 (1864-05-21)
Preceded byTlepq Zefes (People's Council)
Leadership
Chairman
Abzakh Representative
Hasan Bish
Shapsug Representative
Islam Thaushe
Kabardian Representative
Aslan Besleniyiqo
Other important members
Qarabatir Zanuqo (son of Sefer Bey Zanuqo)
Ismail Braqiy
Ibrahim Thaushe
Muhammad Khusht
Ipa Dziash
Nafu
Ahmad Ali
Ibrahim-Ali
Structure
Political groups
Government
Elections
First election
13 June 1861
Last election
13 June 1861
Motto
Псэм ипэ напэ
Psəm yipə napə
"Honor before life"
Meeting place
Ş̂açə (Modern-day Sochi) (1861-1862)
Mutıxwa (Modern-day Plastunki) (1862-1864)
Qbaada (Modern-day Krasnaya Polyana) (1864)

The Circassian Parliament or the Circassian Majlis (Adyghe: Адыгэ Хасэ, romanized: Adıgə Xasə; also called the Great Parliament of Independence; Adyghe: Шъхьафитныгъэ Хасэшхо, romanized: Şhafitnığə Xasəşxo) was the legislature of Circassia officialized in 1861 after a meeting in Sochi attended by leaders of several Circassian provinces. A tribal confederation had existed before the parliament's establishment, but a centralized government was achieved only after it was built.

The parliament aimed to defend the western part of Circassia from Russian invasion, and to liberate the occupied Eastern Circassia from the Russian Empire during the Russian-Circassian War. It also sent delegates abroad to gain support for the Circassian struggle internationally. After the parliament was dissolved by Russian forces, some members sent a letter "A Petition from Circassian leaders to Her Majesty Queen Victoria" requesting humanitarian aid from the British Empire.