Editing Right of return (section)

== Non-state groups claiming a right of return ==
===Circassians===
Circassians are an indigenous ethnic group originating from the northwestern [[Caucasus]]. Throughout the 19th century, the [[Russian Empire]] adopted a policy to [[Circassian genocide|eradicate Circassians]] from their ancestral homelands, pushing most surviving Circassians into the diaspora.<ref name=wiley>Wiley, Mason. [http://digitalcommons.wcl.american.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1837&context=auilr Circassian Right of Return: “Putin The Terrible or Putin The Enlightened?]. American University Washington College of Law 2015.</ref> Many Circassians have expressed an interest in returning to Circassia, particularly [[Refugees of the Syrian Civil War|Circassians fleeing]] the [[Syrian Civil War|conflict in Syria]].<ref name=wiley/>

=== Georgian refugees and internally displaced people ===
{{Main|Ethnic cleansing of Georgians in Abkhazia}}
During [[War in Abkhazia (1992–1993)|Abkhazia's war of secession]] in 1992–1993 and the [[War in Abkhazia (1998)|second Abkhazia war]] in 1998, 200,000–250,000 Georgian civilians became internally displaced people (IDPs) and refugees. Abkhazia, while formally agreeing to repatriation, has hindered the return of refugees both officially and unofficially for more than fifteen years.<ref>Gregory F. Treverton, ''Dividing Divided States'', p.41</ref>

=== Greek-Cypriots ===
{{further|Cypriot refugees}}
During the [[Turkish invasion of Cyprus]], 40% of the Greek-Cypriot population as well as over half of the Turkish-Cypriot population of the island were displaced. The island was divided along ethnic lines and most of the Greek-Cypriot displaced people were not allowed to return to their homes in the northern Turkish-Cypriot side and vice versa.

Plans for a solution of the conflict has centered around bilateral agreements of [[population exchange]], such as the [[Third Vienna Agreement]] reached in 1975 or the proposed [[Annan Plan for Cyprus|Annan Plan]] of 2004. In these plans, the right of return was to be severely limited with respect to Greek-Cypriot internally displaced people/refugees to districts such as  [[Kyrenia]], [[Morphou]], [[Famagusta]], and parts of [[Nicosia]], despite judgements of the [[European Court of Human Rights]] in cases such as [[Loizidou v. Turkey]], and numerous UN resolutions recognizing the right of return (such as [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 361|SC 361]] and [[United Nations General Assembly Resolution 3212|GA 3212]]). Two [[2004 Cypriot Annan Plan referendums|referendums]] on the Annan Plan were held in April 2004, separately along ethnic lines. The Annan Plan was overwhelmingly rejected in the [[Greek Cypriots|Greek-Cypriot]] referendum.

The right of return continues to remain a stumbling block to the settlement of the [[Cyprus problem]].

=== Diego Garcia Chagossians ===
The [[Chagossians]], an ethnic group residing on the island of [[Diego Garcia]] in the [[Indian Ocean]], were expelled to [[Mauritius]] in the 1960s, in connection with the erection of an [[United States Armed Forces|U.S. Military]] strategic military installation on the island. Ever since, the Chagossians have been conducting a persistent political and legal struggle to return to Diego Garcia. As of 2007, their right to return was recognised by several British courts but the [[Government of the United Kingdom|UK government]] had failed to implement it.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

=== Palestinians ===
{{Main|Palestinian right of return|Nakba}}

[[Succession of states|State succession]] arises when there is a definitive replacement of one state by another in respect of sovereignty over a given political territory, in conformity with [[international law]]. Experts argue that, under those principles, Palestinian citizens who [[Nakba|fled or were expelled]] from the areas that became Israel automatically acquired Israeli nationality with the creation of the state in 1948. Consequently, these individuals, based on their [[De jure|''de jure'' nationality]], could claim a right to return.<ref name="lawand">{{cite journal|last=Lawand|first=Kathleen|title=The Right to Return of Palestinians in International Law|journal=[[International Journal of Refugee Law]]|year=1996|volume=8|issue=4|pages=532–568|doi=10.1093/ijrl/8.4.532}}</ref>