Karachay-Cherkessia

Karachay-Cherkessia (Russian: Карачаево-Черкесия, romanized: Karachayevo-Cherkesiya), officially the Karachay-Cherkess Republic,[note 1] is a republic of Russia located in the North Caucasus. It is administratively part of the North Caucasian Federal District. Karachay-Cherkessia has a population of 469,865 (2021 Census).[13] Cherkessk is the largest city and the capital of the republic.

Karachay-Cherkess Republic
Republic
Карачаево-Черкесская Республика
Other transcription(s)
 • Karachay-BalkarКъарачай-Черкес Республика
 • KabardianКъэрэшей-Шэрджэс Республикэ
 • NogaiКарашай-Шеркеш Республикасы
 • AbazaКъарча-Черкес Республика
Flag of Karachay-Cherkess Republic
Flag
Coat of arms of Karachay-Cherkess Republic
Coat of arms
Anthem: State Anthem of Karachay-Cherkessia
[1]
Coordinates: 43°55′N 41°47′E
CountryRussia
Federal districtNorth Caucasian[2]
Economic regionNorth Caucasus[3]
CapitalCherkessk[4]
Government
 • BodyPeople's Assembly[5]
 • Head[5]Rashid Temrezov[6]
Area
[7]
 • Total14,277 km2 (5,512 sq mi)
 • Rank77th
Population
 (2021 Census)[8]
 • Total469,865
 • Estimate 
(2018)[9]
466,305
 • Rank74th
 • Density33/km2 (85/sq mi)
 • Urban
41.3%
 • Rural
58.7%
Time zoneUTC+3 (MSK Edit this on Wikidata[10])
ISO 3166 codeRU-KC
License plates09
OKTMO ID91000000
Official languagesRussian;[11] Abaza, Cherkess (Kabardian), Karachay, Nogai[12]
Websitehttp://www.kchr.ru/
Part of a series on the
Circassians
Адыгэхэр
Arrows in the Circassian flag
List of notable Circassians
Circassian genocide
Circassian diaspora
Circassian tribes

Surviving

Destroyed or barely existing
Religion
Religion in Circassia
Languages and dialects
History
Show
Culture

Karachay-Cherkessia is one of Russia's ethnic republics, primarily representing the indigenous Caucasian-Turkic Karachay people and the Cherkess or Circassian people. Karachays form the largest ethnic group at around 44% of the population, followed by ethnic Russians (27%) and Cherkess (13%). The Cherkess are mostly of the Besleney and Kabardin tribes. The republic has five official languages: Russian, Abaza, Cherkess (Kabardian), Karachay-Balkar, and Nogai.[12]

The majority of the republic's territory is within the Caucasus Mountains, except for a small strip at the northern edge of the Don Steppe. Karachay-Cherkessia is bordered by Krasnodar Krai to the west, Stavropol Krai to the north-east, Kabardino-Balkaria to the south-east, and an international border with Georgia to the south-west. Mount Elbrus, the highest mountain in Europe, is located on the border with Kabardino-Balkaria.

Geography
Map of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic.

The republic is located at the slopes of northwestern Caucasus and borders with Krasnodar Krai in the west and northwest, the Kabardino-Balkar Republic in the southeast, Georgia (including Abkhazia) in the south and west, and with Stavropol Krai in the northeast. It stretches for 140 kilometers (87 mi) from north to south and for 170 kilometers (110 mi) from east to west. Mountains cover 80% of the republic's territory; Mount Elbrus, which at 5,642 meters (18,510 ft) is the highest peak in the Caucasus, is located on the republic's border with Kabardino-Balkaria. The republic is rich in water resources. A total of 172 rivers flow through its territory, with the largest one being the Kuban, Bolshoy Zelenchuk, Maly Zelenchuk, Urup, and Laba. There are about 130 mountain lakes of glacial origin and an abundance of mineral springs. Climate is moderate, with short winters and long, warm, humid summers. The average January temperature is −3.2 °C (26.2 °F), and the average July temperature is +20.6 °C (69.1 °F). Average annual precipitation varies from 550 millimeters (22 in) in the plains to 2,500 millimeters (98 in) in the mountains. Natural resources include gold, coal, clays, and more.

History

The Karachay-Cherkess Autonomous Oblast was founded on January 12, 1922, in the early years of the Soviet Union. It was split into Karachay Autonomous Oblast and Cherkess National Okrug on 26 April 1926. The Cherkess National District was elevated to an autonomous oblast status on 30 April 1928.

In November 1943, Karachay Autonomous Oblast was abolished, the Karachay people were accused of collaboration with the Nazis and 70,000 were subsequently deported to the Kazakh and Uzbek republics. Most of the Karachay territory was split between Stavropol Krai and the Georgian SSR. The remaining territory populated by the Cherkessians was known as Cherkess Autonomous Oblast until 9 January 1957 when it was incorporated into Karachay-Cherkess Autonomous Oblast[14] in its former borders due to the rehabilitation of the Karachay.

On July 3, 1991, the autonomous oblast was elevated to the status of the Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia (under the jurisdiction of the Russian SFSR). With the dissolution of the Soviet Union, congresses of deputies of various nationalities proclaimed:

  • Karachay Soviet Socialist Republic (Russian: Карачаевская Советская Социалистическая Республика; Karachay-Balkar: Къарачай Совет Социалист Республика) on 18 November 1990 (renamed Karachay Republic (Russian: Карачаевская Республика; Karachay-Balkar: Къарачай Республика) on October 17, 1991)
  • Batalpashinsk Cossack Republic (Russian: Баталпашинская Казачья Республика) and Zelenchuk-Urup Cossack Soviet Socialist Republic (Russian: Зеленчукско-Урупская Казачья Советская Социалистическая Республика) on August 19, 1991 (united as the Upper Kuban Cossack Republic (Russian: Верхне-Кубанская Казачья Республика) on November 30, 1991)
  • Cherkess Republic (Russian: Республика Черкесия) on October 27, 1991
  • Abazin Republic (Russian: Абазинская Республика) in November 1991

After demonstrations in December 1991, the Supreme Soviet of Karachay-Cherkessia adopted an appeal for the recognition of the individual republics. Also in December 1991, the words "Autonomous Soviet Socialist" were dropped from the official name of Karachay-Cherkessia.

In January 1992, Russian President Boris Yeltsin was prepared to accept the division of Karachay-Cherkessia and introduced draft laws to the Supreme Soviet of Russia for the reconstitution of the Karachai Autonomous Oblast and Cherkess Autonomous Oblast within the Russian Federation. A commission on formation of three autonomous regions – Karachai, Cherkess, and Batalpashinsk – was established in the Supreme Soviet.

On March 28, 1992, a referendum was held in which, according to official results, the majority of the population of Karachay-Cherkessia voted against splitting the republic and, on December 9, 1992, the republic was recognized as the Karachay-Cherkess Republic.[15]

Politics
Rashid Temrezov with Vladimir Putin, May 2011

The head of the government in Karachay-Cherkessia is the Head (until June 28, 2012, the official title was "President"). Until February 2011, the President was Boris Ebzeyev, a former judge of the Constitutional Court of Russian Federation. Rashid Temrezov is currently the Head of the republic.[6]

Ethnic tension is a considerable problem in the republic. In May 1999, Karachay-Cherkessia conducted its first-ever free regional presidential election. When Vladimir Semyonov, a Karachay, won the election over Stanislav Derev, a Circassian, there were protests by supporters of Derev, with widespread allegations of fraud. A court ruling later upheld the election result, prompting thousands of Derev's supporters to march in protest, many advocating the partitioning of the republic.

Although activity by separatists in the region pales compared to Chechnya and Dagestan, militant groups exist in Karachay-Cherkessia.[16] A car bomb that killed two people in March 2001 was blamed on Chechen separatists. Muslim separatist groups have formed, and dozens of their members have been killed by the Russian authorities.[16]

In September 2007, the FSB killed ethnic Abazin Rustam Ionov ("Abu-Bakar"), head of the Karachaevo Jamaat (assembly), along with his wife.[17]

Administrative divisions
Main article: Administrative divisions of Karachay-Cherkessia

Demographics
Life expectancy at birth in Karachay-Cherkessia
Ethnic map of Karachay-Cherkessia, 2010

Population: 469,865 (2021 Census);[13] 477,859 (2010 Census);[18] 439,470 (2002 Census);[19] 417,560 (1989 Census).[20]

Life expectancy:[21][22]

2019 2021
Average: 76.2 years 73.5 years
Male: 71.7 years 69.3 years
Female: 80.4 years 77.3 years

Vital statistics
Average population (x 1000) Live births Deaths Natural change Crude birth rate (per 1000) Crude death rate (per 1000) Natural change (per 1000) Total fertility rate
1970 346 6,021 2,153 3,868 17.4 6.2 11.2
1975 357 6,619 2,288 4,331 18.5 6.4 12.1
1980 373 7,044 2,794 4,250 18.9 7.5 11.4
1985 394 8,119 3,350 4,769 20.6 8.5 12.1
1990 422 7,218 3,496 3,722 17.1 8.3 8.8
1991 427 7,145 3,713 3,432 16.7 8.7 8.0
1992 431 6,846 3,915 2,931 15.9 9.1 6.8
1993 433 5,569 4,336 1,233 12.9 10.0 2.8
1994 434 5,786 4,598 1,188 13.3 10.6 2.7
1995 437 5,633 4,501 1,132 12.9 10.3 2.6
1996 439 5,281 4,683 598 12.0 10.7 1.4
1997 440 4,987 4,615 372 11.3 10.5 0.8
1998 441 4,990 4,537 453 11.3 10.3 1.0
1999 441 4,523 4,707 −184 10.3 10.7 −0.4
2000 440 4,666 4,961 −295 10.6 11.3 −0.7
2001 440 4,778 4,911 −133 10.9 11.2 −0.3
2002 440 4,927 5,207 −280 11.2 11.8 −0.6
2003 442 5,088 5,427 −339 11.5 12.3 −0.8
2004 446 5,190 5,059 131 11.6 11.3 0.3
2005 450 5,194 5,131 63 11.5 11.4 0.1
2006 454 5,032 4,924 108 11.1 10.8 0.2
2007 459 6,066 4,626 1,440 13.2 10.1 3.1
2008 465 6,364 4,731 1,633 13.7 10.2 3.5
2009 470 6,200 4,711 1,489 13.2 10.0 3.2 1.55
2010 476 6,139 4,737 1,402 12.9 10.0 2.9 1.51
2011 477 6,289 4,664 1,625 13.1 9.7 3.4 1.54
2012 475 6,499 4,633 1,866 13.7 9.8 3.9 1.63
2013 471 6,547 4,464 2,083 13.9 9.5 4.4 1.67
2014 470 6,318 4,553 1,765 13.5 9.7 3.8 1.65
2015 468 5,803 4,523 1,280 12.4 9.6 2.8 1.54
2016 467 5,575 4,393 1,182 11.9 9.4 2.5 1.52
2017 466 5,145 4,346 799 11.0 9.3 1.7 1.43
2018 465 4,974 4,137 837 10.7 8.9 1.8 1.43
2019 5,050 4,219 831 10.8 9.1 1.7 1.48
2020 5,135 5,034 101 11.0 10.8 0.2 1.53
2021 4,470 5,677 -1,207 9.6 12.2 -2.6 1.35
2022 4,429 4,460 -31 9.5 9.6 -0.1 1.30

Sources: 1970 to 2008;[23] 2009–2013;[24] 2014–... [25]


Ethnic groups

According to the 2021 Census, Karachays make up 44.4% of the republic's population, followed by Russians (27.5%), and Cherkess and Abazins together make up 20.8%.[26]

Ethnic
group		 1926 Census1 1939 Census 1959 Census 1970 Census 1979 Census 1989 Census 2002 Census 2010 Census 2021 Census3
Number  % Number  % Number  % Number  % Number  % Number  % Number  % Number  % Number  %
Karachays 53,175 31.3% 70,932 29.2% 67,830 24.4% 97,104 28.2% 109,196 29.7% 129,449 31.2% 169,198 38.5% 194,324 41.0% 205,578 44.4%
Cherkess 16,1862 9.5% 17,667 7.3% 24,145 8.7% 31,190 9.0% 34,430 9.4% 40,241 9.7% 49,591 11.3% 56,466 11.9% 58,825 12.7%
Abazins 13,731 8.1% 14,138 5.8% 18,159 6.5% 22,896 6.6% 24,245 6.6% 27,475 6.6% 32,346 7.4% 36,919 7.8% 37,664 8.1%
Russians 40,072 23.6% 118,785 48.8% 141,843 51.0% 162,442 47.1% 165,451 45.1% 175,931 42.4% 147,878 33.6% 150,025 31.6% 127,621 27.5%
Nogais 6,263 3.7% 6,869 2.8% 8,903 3.2% 11,062 3.2% 11,872 3.2% 12,993 3.1% 14,873 3.4% 15,654 3.3% 17,368 3.7%
Ukrainians 32,518 19.1% 4,104 1.7% 4,011 1.4% 4,819 1.4% 4,555 1.2% 6,308 1.5% 3,331 0.8% 1,990 0.4% 787 0.2%
Others 8,082 4.8% 10,703 4.4% 13,068 4.7% 15,138 4.4% 17,362 4.7% 22,573 5.4% 22,253 5.1% 18,892 4.0% 15,425 3.3%
1 The results of the 1926 census refer to the present territory, which is a combination of the Cherkess ND, the Karachay AO and adjacent areas. The latter areas were mainly inhabited by Russians and Ukrainians.[27]

2 13,496 Kabardins and 2,690 other Cherkess.

3 6,597 people were registered from administrative databases, and could not declare an ethnicity. It is estimated that the proportion of ethnicities in this group is the same as that of the declared group.[28]

Religion
Religion in Karachay-Cherkessia as of 2012 (Sreda Arena Atlas)[29][30]
Islam
 
 64%
Russian Orthodoxy
 
 13.2%
Spiritual but not religious
 
 10%
Other and undeclared
 
 6%
Atheism and irreligion
 
 3%
Native faiths
 
 2%
Other Christians
 
 1.8%

According to a 2012 survey which interviewed 56,900 people,[29] 64% of the population of Karachay-Cherkessia adheres to Islam, 13% to the Russian Orthodox Church, 2% to the Karachay and Circassian native faith, 2% are unaffiliated Christians, unchurched Orthodox Christian believers or members of non-Russian Orthodox churches. In addition, 10% of the population declares to be "spiritual but not religious", 3% are atheist, and 6% are other/undeclared.[29]

Notable people


Science

The republic is the home of what was the largest telescope in the world from 1975 until 1993 (the BTA-6), a very large radio telescope (576 meters in diameter, RATAN-600), and the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Science dedicated to the study of astronomy. These facilities are located on the bank of the Zelenchuk River, between the villages of Zelenchukskaya and Arkhyz.

  • Mountainous landscape of Arkhyz
    Mountainous landscape of Arkhyz
  • Wedding in Karachay-Cherkessia
    Wedding in Karachay-Cherkessia
  • Karachayevsk
    Karachayevsk
  • Small settlement in Karachay-Cherkessia
    Small settlement in Karachay-Cherkessia
  • View to Mount Elbrus from pass Gumbashi (with zoom)
    View to Mount Elbrus from pass Gumbashi (with zoom)

See also

Notes
  1. Russian: Карачаево-Черкесская Республика, romanized: Karachayevo-Cherkesskaya Respublika; Karachay-Balkar: Къарачай-Черкес Республика, romanized: Qaraçay-Çerkes Respublika; Kabardian: Къэрэшей-Шэрджэс Республика, romanized: Ķêrêšei-Šêrdžês Respublikê; Nogai: Карашай-Шеркеш Республика, romanized: Karaşay-Şerkeş Respublika; Abaza: Къарча-Черкес Республика, romanized: Qarça-Çerkes Respublika

References
  1. Law #410-XXII
  2. Президент Российской Федерации. Указ №849 от 13 мая 2000 г. «О полномочном представителе Президента Российской Федерации в федеральном округе». Вступил в силу 13 мая 2000 г. Опубликован: "Собрание законодательства РФ", No. 20, ст. 2112, 15 мая 2000 г. (President of the Russian Federation. Decree #849 of May 13, 2000 On the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in a Federal District. Effective as of May 13, 2000.).
  3. Госстандарт Российской Федерации. №ОК 024-95 27 декабря 1995 г. «Общероссийский классификатор экономических регионов. 2. Экономические районы», в ред. Изменения №5/2001 ОКЭР. (Gosstandart of the Russian Federation. #OK 024-95 December 27, 1995 Russian Classification of Economic Regions. 2. Economic Regions, as amended by the Amendment #5/2001 OKER. ).
  4. Constitution of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, Article 114
  5. Constitution of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, Article 4
  6. Official website of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic. Rashid Borispiyevich Temrezov, Head of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic Archived May 13, 2022, at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)
  7. "Сведения о наличии и распределении земель в Российской Федерации на 01.01.2019 (в разрезе субъектов Российской Федерации)". Federal Service for State Registration, Cadastre and Cartography. Archived from the original on February 9, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  8. "Оценка численности постоянного населения по субъектам Российской Федерации". Federal State Statistics Service. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  9. "26. Численность постоянного населения Российской Федерации по муниципальным образованиям на 1 января 2018 года". Federal State Statistics Service. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  10. "Об исчислении времени". Официальный интернет-портал правовой информации (in Russian). June 3, 2011. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  11. Official throughout the Russian Federation according to Article 68.1 of the Constitution of Russia.
  12. Constitution of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, Article 11.1
  13. Russian Federal State Statistics Service. Всероссийская перепись населения 2020 года. Том 1 [2020 All-Russian Population Census, vol. 1] (XLS) (in Russian). Federal State Statistics Service.
  14. Президиум Верховного Совета СССР. Указ от 9 февраля 1957 г. «О преобразовании Черкесской автономной области в Карачаево-Черкесскую автономную область». (Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. Decree of 9 February 1957 On Transformation of Cherkess Autonomous Oblast into Karachay-Cherkess Autonomous Oblast. ).
  15. "Закон РФ от 9 декабря 1992 г. N 4061-I "Об изменениях и дополнениях Конституции (Основного Закона) Российской Федерации - России" (принят седьмым Съездом народных депутатов РФ)". constitution.garant.ru.
  16. Mairbek Vatchagaev (June 21, 2012). "The Karachay Jamaat: Alive and Operational". Eurasia Daily Monitor. The Jamestown Foundation. 9 (118). Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  17. Fatima Tlis (January 31, 2008). "Karachaevo-Cherkessia: A Small War with Big Repercussions". North Caucasus Analysis. The Jamestown Foundation. 9 (4). Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  18. Russian Federal State Statistics Service (2011). Всероссийская перепись населения 2010 года. Том 1 [2010 All-Russian Population Census, vol. 1]. Всероссийская перепись населения 2010 года [2010 All-Russia Population Census] (in Russian). Federal State Statistics Service.
  19. Russian Federal State Statistics Service (May 21, 2004). Численность населения России, субъектов Российской Федерации в составе федеральных округов, районов, городских поселений, сельских населённых пунктов – районных центров и сельских населённых пунктов с населением 3 тысячи и более человек [Population of Russia, Its Federal Districts, Federal Subjects, Districts, Urban Localities, Rural Localities—Administrative Centers, and Rural Localities with Population of Over 3,000] (XLS). Всероссийская перепись населения 2002 года [All-Russia Population Census of 2002] (in Russian).
  20. Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 г. Численность наличного населения союзных и автономных республик, автономных областей и округов, краёв, областей, районов, городских поселений и сёл-райцентров [All Union Population Census of 1989: Present Population of Union and Autonomous Republics, Autonomous Oblasts and Okrugs, Krais, Oblasts, Districts, Urban Settlements, and Villages Serving as District Administrative Centers]. Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 года [All-Union Population Census of 1989] (in Russian). Институт демографии Национального исследовательского университета: Высшая школа экономики [Institute of Demography at the National Research University: Higher School of Economics]. 1989 – via Demoscope Weekly.
  21. "Демографический ежегодник России" [The Demographic Yearbook of Russia] (in Russian). Federal State Statistics Service of Russia (Rosstat). Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  22. "Ожидаемая продолжительность жизни при рождении" [Life expectancy at birth]. Unified Interdepartmental Information and Statistical System of Russia (in Russian). Archived from the original on February 20, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  23. Russian Federal State Statistics Service Archived January 3, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  24. Демографический ежегодник России [Demographic Yearbook of Russia] (in Russian). Russian Federal State Statistics Service.
  25. "fedstat.ru". fedstat.ru.
  26. "Национальный состав населения". Federal State Statistics Service. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  27. "население карачаево-черкесии". www.ethno-kavkaz.narod.ru. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  28. "ВПН-2010". www.perepis-2010.ru. Archived from the original on December 25, 2018. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  29. "Arena: Atlas of Religions and Nationalities in Russia". Sreda, 2012.
  30. 2012 Arena Atlas Religion Maps. "Ogonek", № 34 (5243), 27/08/2012. Retrieved 21/04/2017. Archived.
  31. "Байрамкулова Зухра Абдурахмановна". www.warheroes.ru. Retrieved April 22, 2020.

Sources
  • Народное Собрание Карачаево-Черкесской Республики. Закон №410-XXII от 9 апреля 1998 г. «О государственном гимне Карачаево-Черкесской Республики», в ред. Закона №85-РЗ от 6 декабря 2013 г. «О внесении изменений в отдельные законодательные акты Карачаево-Черкесской Республики в связи с установлением административной ответственности за неправомерное использование государственных символов Карачаево-Черкесской Республики». Вступил в силу с момента опубликования, за исключением статей 2 и 3, вступающих в силу с 15 мая 1998 г.. Опубликован: "День Республики", №48(15471), 25 апреля 1998 г. (People's Assembly of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic. Law #410-XXII of April 9, 1998 On the State Anthem of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, as amended by the Law #85-RZ of December 6, 2013 On Amending Various Legislative Acts of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic Due to the Introduction of Administrative Sanctions for Misuse of the Symbols of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic. Effective as of the moment of publication, with the exception of Articles 2 and 3, which take effect on May 15, 1998.).
  • 5 марта 1996 г. «Конституция Карачаево-Черкесской Республики», в ред. Конституционного Закона №49-РКЗ от 27 июня 2012 г. «О внесении изменений в Конституцию Карачаево-Черкесской Республики». Вступил в силу со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Сборник Законов и Постановлений КЧР 1995–1999 гг", Часть I. (March 5, 1996 Constitution of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, as amended by the Constitutional Law #49-RKZ of June 27, 2012 On Amending the Constitution of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic. Effective as of the day of the official publication.).
  • Верховный Совет РСФСР. Закон №1539-I от 3 июля 1991 г. «О порядке преобразования Адыгейской, Горно-Алтайской, Карачаево-Черкесской и Хакасской автономных областей в Советские Социалистические Республики в составе РСФСР». (Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR. Law #1539-I of July 3, 1991 On the Process of Transformation of Adyghe, Mountain Altai, Karachay-Cherkess, and Khakass Autonomous Oblasts into Soviet Socialist Republics Within the RSFSR. ).
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