ABOUT RUSSIA / REGIONS / THE KARACHAYEVO CIRCASSIAN REPUBLIC

The Karachayevo-Circassian Republic

Karachayevo-Circassia covers 14,100 square km and has 419,970 inhabitants, 42 percent of the Russian, 32 percent of the Karachais, 9 percent of the Circassians and 7 percent of the Abaza (1989). Rural population: the Karachais - 67 percent, Circassians - 62 percent (1989).

The Karachais were driven into the highlands of the North Caucasus by Mongol tribes in the 13th century. Their territory was annexed by the Russian Empire in 1828 but they continued to resist Russian rule throughout the 19th century.

Many Karachay emigrated to the Ottoman Empire in the 1860-70s to avoid Russian oppression. The Karachai Autonomous Okrug was established in 1920. The Circassians are a subgroup of the Circassians. They had come under Russian control in the 1550s for protection against the Crimean Tatars and some Turkic tribes. Relations with Russia deteriorated when many Russians settled in the region. Following the end of the Ottoman claim to the Caucasus in 1829 and the resulting uprisings, Russia completed its occupation of the territory in 1864. Subsequently, many Cherkess were deported to Turkey at this time. The Circassian Autonomous Oblast was first established in 1922.

The Karachai and Circassian Autonomous Oblasts were merged to form the Karachayvo-Circassian Autonomous Oblast in accordance with Stalin's strategy of joining unrelated ethnic groups into administrative units to divide and conquer any resistance. The oblasts repeatedly changed name and status during the frequent reshuffling of the peoples of the North Caucasus region. In 1943, the Karachay were deported to Central Asia but the Circassians remained in the region. The Karachai were rehabilitated and permitted to return in 1957 and Karachayvo-Circassian Autonomous Oblast was re-established.

With 40 percent of the population being Russian and an administrative status as subordinated as the Russian Stavropol Province and the lowest possible level of autonomy until 1991. Russification is strong in Karachayvo-Circassia.

In territory of republic there are mountain resorts Teberda and Dombai.

The fact that the 28,000 Abaza lack all the privileges of a titular nation, which the 40,000 Circassians share in power with the much large group of Karachay, is a clear example of the arbitrary nature of the Soviet construction of double titular nationality republics and its consequences. Formal power-sharing notwithstanding, Russians have dominated political life in the new Karachayvo-Circassian Republic. This might change if the experience of neighboring Kabardino-Balkaria with a similar make up, can serve as a model for development.

The Karachais claim full rehabilitation after the deportations. More radical Karachay movements insist on territorial expansion and autonomy or even separate Karachayvo Republic, in accordance with the situation prior to the deportations. Cossacks have voiced claims of seceding from the republic to join the Kuban Cossacks in the neighboring Krasnodor district.

Still, a poll held in 1993 resulted in 78.6 percent wanting to preserve the Karachayvo-Chircassian Republic as an undivided unit, so it seems that most people fear the consequences of claims made by the radical groups. The Karachai urban centre Karachayevsk, has been selected by the Confederation of Repressed Peoples as the location or their main office.

The territory proclaimed itself a republic in 1990. Special laws and agreements: The republic agreed to a division of responsibilities by a treaty with the Russian Federation in 1995.

Karachayevo-Circassia adopted a program on the coordination of legislative, economic, environmental and legal activities with the Republics of Adygea and Kabardino-Balkaria in May 1998.
REGIONS OF RUSSIA