Karachay-Cherkess Republic (kärächī'-chĕrkĕs'), constituent republic (1990 est. pop. 420,000), c.5,500 sq mi (14,200 sq km), Stavropol Territory, SE European Russia, in the Greater Caucasus, along the upper Kuban River. Cherkessk is the capital. The republic consists of lowland steppe in the north and the Caucasian foothills in the south. Grains, fruits, and vegetables are grown and livestock is raised. The republic has lead, zinc, copper, and gold mines. Industrial products include building materials, foodstuffs, and machinery. The largest ethnic groups in the population are Russians (40%), Karachay (31%), and Cherkess (Circassians, 10%). The Karachay are Turkic-speaking Muslims who arrived in the region in the 14th cent. In the 16th cent. they became vassals of Kabardinian princes, then passed (1733) to Turkish suzerainty, and in 1828 were conquered by the Russians. The region was included (1921) in the Mountain People's Republic, but in 1922 it became the Karachay-Cherkess Autonomous Region. In 1924 it was divided into the Karachay Autonomous Region and the Cherkess National Area; the latter became an autonomous region in 1928 (see Circassia). In 1943 the Karachay, accused of collaborating with the Germans in World War II, were deported to Siberia, and their autonomous region was abolished. However, the Karachay-Cherkess Autonomous Region was reestablished in 1957, when the "rehabilitation" of deported peoples was decreed. In 1990, the region's supreme soviet declared it a full soviet socialist republic. It was a signatory, under the name Republic of Karachayevo-Cherkisiya, to the Mar. 31, 1992, treaty that created the Russian Federation (see Russia).
Karachay-Cherkess Republic
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| Wikipedia: Karachay-Cherkessia |
| Karachay-Cherkess Republic (English) Карачаево-Черкесская Республика (Russian) Къарачай-Черкес Республика (Karachay-Balkar) Къэрэшей-Шэрджэс Республикэ (Kabardian) |
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| Coordinates: 44°0′N 42°0′E / 44°N 42°ECoordinates: 44°0′N 42°0′E / 44°N 42°E | |
| Coat of Arms | Flag |
 Coat of arms of Karachay-Cherkessia |
 Flag of Karachay-Cherkessia |
| Anthem: National Anthem of Karachay-Cherkessia | |
| Capital | Cherkessk |
| Established | January 9, 1957[1] |
| Political status | Republic |
| Federal District | Southern[2] |
| Economic region | North Caucasus[3] |
| Area[4] | 14,100 km2 (5,444.0 sq mi) |
| - Rank within Russia | 77th |
| Code ISO 3166-2:RU |
09 RU-KC |
| Population (as of the 2002 Census) | |
| Population[5] | 439,470 inhabitants |
| - Rank within Russia | 75th |
| - Density | 31.2 /km2 (80.8/sq mi) |
| - Urban[5] | 44.0% |
| - Rural[5] | 66.0% |
| Official language(s) | Russian, Abaza, Cherkess, Karachay, Nogai[6] |
| Government (as of October 2008) | |
| President[7] | Boris Ebzeyev[8] |
| Legislative body | People's Assembly (Parliament)[7] |
| Constitution | Constitution of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic |
| Official website | |
| http://www.kchr.info/ | |
Karachay-Cherkess Republic (Russian: Карача́ево-Черке́сская Pеспу́блика; Karachay-Balkar: Къарачай-Черкес Республика; Kabardian: Къэрэшей-Шэрджэс Республикэ), or Karachay-Cherkessia (Карача́ево-Черке́ссия) is a federal subject of Russia (a republic). The direct romanization of the republic's Russian name is Karachayevo-Cherkesskaya Respublika or Karachayevo-Cherkessiya.
Contents |
Geography
- Area: 14,100 km2 (5,400 sq mi)
- Borders:
- internal: Krasnodar Krai (N/NE/E), Kabardino-Balkar Republic (E/SE), Stavropol Krai (W/NW).
- international: Georgia (S/SW) (including Abkhazia).
- Highest point: Mount Elbrus (5,642 m)
- Maximum N->S distance: no data
- Maximum E->W distance: no data
Time zone
Karachay-Cherkessia is located in the Moscow Time Zone (MSK/MSD). UTC offset is +0300 (MSK)/+0400 (MSD).
Rivers
There are 172 rivers on the territory of the republic. Major rivers include:
- Aksaut River
- Bolshaya Laba River
- Bolshoy Zelenchuk River
- Daut River
- Kuban River
- Kuma River
- Kyafar River
- Bolshaya Laba River
- Maly Zelenchuk River
- Marukha River
- Podkumok River
- Teberda River
- Urup River
Lakes
There are approximately 130 lakes in the republic.
Mountains
The landscape of the republic is mostly mountainous (~80% of the territory). Mount Elbrus, the highest mountain in Europe, is situated on the border with the Kabardino-Balkar Republic.
Natural resources
Karachay-Cherkessia's natural resources include gold, coal, clays, and more.
Climate
- Average January temperature: −3.2 °C (26.2 °F)
- Average July temperature: +20.6 °C (69.1 °F)
- Average annual precipitation: 550 mm (20 in) (plains) to 2,500 mm (100 in) (mountains)
Administrative divisions
Main article: Administrative divisions of Karachay-Cherkessia
See also: Abazinia
Demographics
- Population: 439,470 (2002)
- Urban: 193,531 (44.0%)
- Rural: 245,939 (56.0%)
- Male: 205,481 (46.8%)
- Female: 233,989 (53.2%)
- Females per 1000 males: 1,139
- Average age: 33.2 years
- Urban: 33.4 years
- Rural: 33.1 years
- Male: 31.0 years
- Female: 35.2 years
- Number of households: 127,488 (with 437,338 people)
- Urban: 62,858 (with 192,642people)
- Rural: 65,130 (with 244,696 people)
- Vital statistics (2005)
- Births: 5,194 (birth rate 12.0)
- Deaths: 5,131 (death rate 11.9)
- Ethnic groups
According to the 2002 Census, Karachays make up 38.5% of the republic's population, followed by Russians (33.6%) and Cherkes (11.3%). Other groups include Abazins (7.4%), Nogais (3.4%), Ossetians (3,333, or 0.8%), Ukrainians (3,331, or 0.8%), Armenians (3,197, or 0.7%), Tatars (2,021, or 0.5%), and a host of smaller groups, each accounting for less than 0.5% of the total population.
| census 1926 | census 1939 | census 1959 | census 1970 | census 1979 | census 1989 | census 2002 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karachays | 52,875 (52.0%) | 70,932 (29.2%) | 67,830 (24.4%) | 97,104 (28.2%) | 109,196 (29.7%) | 129,449 (31.2%) | 169,198 (38.5%) |
| Cherkess | 16,186 (15.9%) | 17,667 (7.3%) | 24,145 (8.7%) | 31,190 (9.0%) | 34,430 (9.4%) | 40,241 (9.7%) | 49,591 (11.3%) |
| Abazins | 13,731 (13.5%) | 14,138 (5.8%) | 18,159 (6.5%) | 22,896 (6.6%) | 24,245 (6.6%) | 27,475 (6.6%) | 32,346 (7.4%) |
| Russians | 2,593 (2.6%) | 118,785 (48.8%) | 141,843 (51.0%) | 162,442 (47.1%) | 165,451 (45.1%) | 175,931 (42.4%) | 147,878 (33.6%) |
| Nogais | 6,263 (6.2%) | 6,869 (2.8%) | 8,903 (3.2%) | 11,062 (3.2%) | 11,872 (3.2%) | 12,993 (3.1%) | 14,873 (3.4%) |
| Others | 9,961 (9.8%) | 14,810 (6.1%) | 17,079 (6.1%) | 19,957 (5.8%) | 21,917 (6.0%) | 28,881 (7.0%) | 25,584 (5.8%) |
History
Karachay-Cherkess Autonomous Oblast was created on January 12, 1922. It was split into Karachay Autonomous Oblast and Cherkess National District on April 26, 1926. Cherkess National District was elevated to an autonomous oblast status on April 30, 1928. In 1943, Karachay Autonomous Oblast was abolished and the Karachay population was deported to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan accused in collaboration with the Nazis. Most of the Karchay territory was split between Stavropol Krai and Georgia. The remaining territory populated by the Cherkessians was known as Cherkess Autonomous Oblast until January 9, 1957 when it was re-established into Karachay-Cherkess Autonomous Oblast in its former borders due to the re-habilitation 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 in December 1991, the words "Autonomous Soviet Socialist" was dropped from the name.
Politics
The head of government in Karachay-Cherkessia is the President. As of summer 2008, the president is Boris Safarovich Ebzeyev, a former judge of the Constitutional Court of Russian Federation.
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 partition of the republic.
A car-bomb that killed two people in March 2001 was blamed on Chechen separatists. In September 2007, the FSB killed Abubakar, the chief Islamic extremist of the republic.
Economy
Industry is mostly concentrated in the capital of the republic, Cherkessk. Chemical, wood, and food industries are the most developed.
Science
The republic is the home of what was the largest telescope of the world when it was built, a very large radiotelescope (600 meters in diameter), 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.
References
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This article's citation style may be unclear. The references used may be made clearer with a different or consistent style of citation, footnoting, or external linking. (September 2009) |
- ^ 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 February 9, 1957 On Transformation of Cherkess Autonomous Oblast into Karachay-Cherkess Autonomous Oblast. ).
- ^ Госстандарт Российской Федерации. №ОК 024-95 27 декабря 1995 г. «Общероссийский классификатор экономических регионов. 1. Федеральные округа», в ред. Изменения №5/2001 ОКЭР. (Gosstandart of the Russian Federation. #OK 024-95 December 27, 1995 Russian Classification of Economic Regions. 1. Federal Districts, as amended by the Amendment #5/2001 OKER. ).
- ^ 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. ).
- ^ Федеральная служба государственной статистики (Federal State Statistics Service) (2004-05-21). "Территория, число районов, населённых пунктов и сельских администраций по субъектам Российской Федерации (Territory, Number of Districts, Inhabited Localities, and Rural Administration by Federal Subjects of the Russian Federation)" (in Russian). Всероссийская перепись населения 2002 года (All-Russia Population Census of 2002). Federal State Statistics Service. http://perepis2002.ru/ct/html/TOM_01_03.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
- ^ a b c Федеральная служба государственной статистики (Federal State Statistics Service) (2004-05-21). "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)" (in Russian). Всероссийская перепись населения 2002 года (All-Russia Population Census of 2002). Federal State Statistics Service. http://perepis2002.ru/ct/html/TOM_01_04_1.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
- ^ Constitution, Article 11.1
- ^ a b Constitution, Article 4
- ^ Official website of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic. [Biography of Boris Safarovich Ebzeyev] (Russian)
Sources
- 5 марта 1996 г. «Конституция Карачаево-Черкесской Республики», в ред. Конституционного закона №87-РЗ от 12 ноября 2007 г. (March 5, 1996 Constitution of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, as amended by the Constitutional Law #87-RZ of November 12, 2007. ).
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Karachay-Cherkessia |
- (Russian) Official website of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic
- (English) (Russian) Collection of images of Karachay-Cherkessia
- (English) Images of Karachay-Cherkessia
- (English) An account of the disputed 1999 election
- (English) Collection of images of Karachay-Cherkessia, with a focus on caves
- (English)(Turkish) Ulu Cami: A Karachay Mosque serving Muslim Community in Northern Jersey
- Folk Song Mingitav
- TIKA
- [1]
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Mentioned in
- Cherkessk (city, Russia)
- Circassia (ancient region, Russia)
- Stavropol Territory (division, Russia)
- Balkars (Russian history)
- Prikubansky District
- Nogaysky District
- Caucasus (region, mountains, Russia/Georgia/Armenia/Azerbaijan)
- Karachayevsky District
- Ust-Dzheguta
- Urup (disambiguation)
- Teberda
- Vladimir Semyonov
- Abaza
- Kuban River
