Introduction
The first half of December was marked by Ramzan Kadyrov’s expressed willingness to run in the 2026 election for the post of Head of Chechnya. Despite persistent rumours regarding his health, he continues to project an image of himself as a capable and active leader. The North Caucasus has also been targeted by Ukrainian drone attacks, which have at times led to the temporary closure of airports. One such drone strike hit a skyscraper complex in Chechnya.
Adyghea
On 3 December, the Republic of Adyghea commemorated the Day of the Unknown Soldier, dedicated to the Soviet soldiers who went missing during the Second World War. In the Adygeysk district, the local ethnological museum held a “lesson in bravery” for school pupils. During the event, the participants learned more about the heroes of the Second World War from the Republic of Adyghea, and the museum displayed personal letters and photographs belonging to wartime participants. The event was organised by the local administration of the town of Adygeysk.
“Lessons in bravery” have been held actively throughout Russia, especially since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. In the context of Adyghea, such activities carry particular significance for the Russian authorities, as the town of Adygeysk is populated mostly by Circassians, for whom the concept of bravery is traditionally associated with episodes from the Russo–Caucasian War — a history that Russia seeks to downplay. As such, the Russian education system attempts to reshape these values among Circassians by placing greater emphasis on feats of bravery seen during the Second World War.
Karachaevo-Cherkessia
Social media users in Karachayevo-Cherkessia have expressed concern over the closure of access to the Bermamyt Plateau by a local business without official authorisation. The area has been surrounded by barbed wire, and access roads have been blocked by a checkpoint. The new owners of the territory reportedly charge visitors 100 rubles per entry. Bermamyt Plateau forms part of the Khasauka nature reserve. Local residents are permitted only limited grazing of their livestock there for personal use, and, until recently, no commercial farming had existed in this area. The new owners have now decided to establish a commercial farm on the site.
Pastures play a vital role for the rural population of the mountainous regions of the North-West Caucasus, particularly in Karachayevo-Cherkessia and Kabardino-Balkaria. This often gives rise to disputes over land use and territorial conflicts between ethnic communities. On many occasions, large commercial farms have clashed with local residents over access to pastures. In addition, overgrazing has contributed to ecological problems in mountainous areas.
Kabardino-Balkaria
A mountain in the Caucasus range has been named after the prominent Balkar poet Kerim Otarov. The decision was taken by the parliament of Kabardino-Balkaria. According to local MP Boris Malbakhov, “the parliament received a petition from the Elbrus district administration to assign the name ‘Kerim Otarov’ to one of the unnamed mountains of the Caucasus range located within the territory of the Elbrus township.” Kerim Otarov, who began his literary career in the 1930s, was a well-known poet from Kabardino-Balkaria who wrote in both the Balkar and Russian languages.
For the Karachai–Balkar people, the Caucasus mountain range holds strong symbolic significance. The highest peak, Elbrus — known among this group as Mingi Tau — appears frequently in their folklore. The Elbrus district itself is predominantly populated by Balkars. Therefore, naming a mountain after a Balkar poet represents a step towards reaffirming the presence of Balkars in the mountainous regions.
North Ossetia
Due to deteriorating weather conditions in the mountains of North Ossetia, restrictions were imposed on the movement of trucks and heavy vehicles along the Georgian Military Road and the Transcaucasian Highway, which connect North Ossetia with Georgia. According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the restrictions were introduced because it was impossible to ensure safe travel. The restrictions were lifted on 13 December.
The Georgian Military Road is a vital route linking the North and South Caucasus, serving as a major transit corridor between Russia and Georgia. Landlocked Armenia is highly dependent on this road, and it is also used to connect Russia with Turkey and Iran. Owing to its terrain and high altitude, the road is frequently closed during the winter due to adverse weather conditions. As a result, the Russian authorities have been seeking alternative routes to Georgia.
Ingushetia
The FSB has detained residents of Ingushetia in the Magadan region on charges of the illegal trade in large quantities of silver and gold. According to preliminary information, around 70 kilograms of precious metals were seized from hidden compartments in vehicles. The detainees were allegedly members of the Batalhaji brotherhood. Investigators also claim that the individuals were involved in other criminal activities.
Historically, there has been a strong Ingush diaspora in the Magadan region, with many Ingush involved in gold mining and the gold trade. Some Ingush entrepreneurs, however, have established dense, ethnicity-based networks to smuggle gold from the mines of Magadan. In addition, they have been known to manufacture counterfeit gold coins of the Russian Empire and sell them on the black market. In many cases, these commercial networks are intertwined with religious ones.
The Batalhaji brotherhood is one of the most close-knit and secretive communities in Ingushetia. This Sufi brotherhood belongs to the Qadiriyya tariqa, and was founded in the nineteenth century by Batal-Haji Belkharoy, a disciple of the prominent Chechen Qadiriyya sheikh Kunta-Haji. Today, the brotherhood reportedly has more than 5,000 adherents, with its core consisting of the descendants of Sheikh Batal-Haji. Many high-ranking members of the brotherhood have held senior positions in the Ingush government. The group has been controversial and is linked to multiple criminal incidents. The Batalhaji brotherhood has also been known for its close ties with Kadyrov’s administration. More recently, it has expressed support for the Russian army’s invasion of Ukraine, and has reportedly sent volunteers to the frontline.
Chechnya
On 5 December, Ukrainian drones attacked the capital of Chechnya, Grozny. The drones struck Grozny City, a complex of skyscrapers housing government offices, as well as commercial premises. The strikes caused damage to several floors and sparked a fire, though no casualties were reported. The head of the Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov, condemned the attack, and promised retaliation against the Ukrainian armed forces. In total, more than 80 drones entered the airspace of the North Caucasus that day. At least four explosions were heard in Grozny during the night, most likely as a result of drone interceptions.
The attack on Grozny City was symbolic rather than military in nature. Completed in 2015, the Grozny City complex includes a tower standing 145 metres high, making it the third tallest building in the Russian Federation. Today, Grozny City is one of Chechnya’s principal landmarks, and it plays an important role in Ramzan Kadyrov’s public image. His administration frequently presents it as a symbol of prosperity, reconstruction, and development achieved after Chechnya’s submission to Russia and the establishment of peace. Striking this complex with drones undermines Kadyrov’s narrative of a stable and peaceful Chechnya.
Dagestan
The local administration of the city of Makhachkala has decided to abolish trolleybus services in the city. Although the authorities initially promised to retain them, they ultimately opted to dissolve the Makhachkala Trolleybus Administration, which had accumulated debts exceeding 265 million rubles. The authorities have pledged to replace trolleybuses with buses. Social media users have expressed skepticism regarding this decision, with many highlighting the low fares, flexibility, and environmentally friendly nature of trolleybus transport. Makhachkala has had trolleybus services since 1973, with a well-developed network that even included regular routes between Makhachkala and the city of Kaspiysk. In recent decades, however, the trolleybus infrastructure has deteriorated, the vehicles have not been modernised, and the quality of service has declined, with frequent delays being reported.
Among the cities of the North Caucasus, Makhachkala suffers most acutely from urban mismanagement. Chaotic construction, often at the expense of green and recreational areas, traffic congestion, the absence of coherent urban planning, overpopulation, and the demolition of historic buildings are among the city’s most pressing concerns. These issues have contributed to the emergence of grassroots movements opposing the current urban policies. For example, the movement Gorod Nash has protested against the construction of apartment blocks near the shores of Lake Akgol. As Makhachkala’s population continues to grow, such urban grassroots movements are likely to gain traction.
Diaspora
Representatives of the Turkish Circassian diaspora have expressed their support for Larisa Tuptsokova, against whom the Russian authorities have opened a criminal case, in a statement addressed to the Head of the Republic of Adyghea, Murat Kumpilov, the Head of the Government, Anzaur Kerashev, as well as senators and State Duma deputies from Adyghea and Kabardino-Balkaria. The authors of the statement voiced concern over what they described as the politically motivated and unjust persecution of Tuptsokova. They also emphasised that she had ceased her work at the Circassian Cultural Centre in Tbilisi, later designated a terrorist organisation, well before it was added to the terrorist list.
The Circassian diaspora in Turkey frequently responds to events taking place in their ancestral homeland. For example, the hunger strike by Ruslan Guashev, the arrest of Martin Kochesoko, and protests against the Sochi Olympic Games all prompted reactions from the diaspora. While the Circassian diaspora rarely initiates transnational protests, it often responds to and joins collective actions launched by activists from Kabardino-Balkaria or Adyghea, particularly so following the advent of the internet and the expansion of social media.