Introduction
The past two weeks coincided with the month of Ramadan in the North Caucasus, a period during which the republics placed greater emphasis on spiritual life. This was marked, among other developments, by the opening of a new mosque in the Republic of Adygea. Another significant event was the commemoration of the deportation of the Balkar people on 8 March. No major developments were reported in the North Caucasus in connection with the war in Ukraine. The following section outlines the main events of the past two weeks.
Adyghea
On 15 February, a new mosque was opened in the city of Adygheysk. The opening ceremony was attended by several thousand people, including local residents, as well as visitors from neighbouring North Caucasian republics. The Head of the Republic, Murat Kumpilov, also took part in the event and described it as a historic day for the region. In his remarks, he emphasised the importance of promoting “traditional Islam” in the republic. The mosque was constructed through donations provided by businessman Nart Siyukh, a repatriated Circassian originally from Turkey.
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union and the reopening of borders, members of the Circassian diaspora have increasingly expressed interest in returning to their ancestral homeland in the North Caucasus. To date, more than 2,000 repatriated Circassians from Kosovo, Turkey, Syria, and Jordan reside in the Republic of Adyghea. The village of Mafehabl, for example, is largely populated by repatriates who arrived from Kosovo. Nevertheless, many Circassians wishing to return continue to face significant bureaucratic obstacles in obtaining residence permits or Russian citizenship. In addition, having lived outside the Caucasus for more than 150 years, there are considerable social and cultural differences [kd1] between Circassians in the North Caucasus and those in the diaspora. As a result of these differences, some repatriates experience difficulties adapting to their new environment.
Karachaevo-Cherkessia
A resident of Karachaevo-Cherkessia has been sentenced to 15 days of administrative detention by the Khabez District Court for posting negative comments about President Vladimir Putin online. According to the investigation, Mukharbi Shebzukhov published several posts in various groups on the social media platform VKontakte that contained criticism of both Putin and the Russian people more broadly. Shebzukhov acknowledged that the posts were authentic, but did not admit guilt. Earlier in 2025, another resident of Karachaevo-Cherkessia, Ramazan Mkhtse, was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment for critical comments about the Russian armed forces.
This case reflects the tightening of control over social media activity in the North Caucasus. Given the restrictions imposed on platforms such as Facebook and X, VKontakte has become one of the few remaining spaces where many North Caucasians can engage in discussions and express their opinions online. Yet VKontakte is widely regarded as being closely monitored by Russian security services, which makes its users particularly vulnerable to surveillance and potential legal consequences for their online activity.
Kabardino-Balkaria
On 8 March, Kabardino-Balkaria commemorated the deportation of the Balkar people. In 1944, during the Second World War, the Soviet authorities deported the entire Balkar population to Central Asia, accusing them of collaboration with the Nazi regime. They were not the only Caucasians to experience such forced deportation.
The memorial event took place in front of the monument to the victims of political repression. The ceremony began with poetic and musical performances, followed by the laying of flowers. Among those who addressed the audience were the leader of the civic organisation Birlik, Akhmat Sumaev; the president of the International Circassian Association, Khauti Sokhrokov; and the head of the Russian historical and cultural society Veche, Roman Litvinov. The Head of Kabardino-Balkaria, Kazbek Kokov, issued a statement on his Telegram channel, noting in his message that, “No matter how much time has passed, the pain of this tragedy remains in our hearts. We commemorate the victims of injustice and impunity.”
Although the Balkars were later rehabilitated and allowed to return to their ancestral homeland, the Soviet deportation continues to play an important role in the historical memory of the community. Moreover, upon their return, some of the lands and pastures previously inhabited by Balkars had already been settled by other ethnic groups. This situation has contributed to a number of longstanding land disputes in the region.
North Ossetia
The former Minister of Construction of North Ossetia, Konstantin Morgoev, has been arrested on charges of abuse of office. Morgoev, who served as minister between 2022 and 2023, is reportedly under investigation in connection with the reconstruction of the Spartak Stadium. According to available information, in 2022, the ministry signed a contract with a construction company to carry out renovation works at the stadium. The initial cost of the project was estimated at 458 million roubles, but the budget later increased to 671 million roubles. Despite the additional funding, the reconstruction project has not yet been completed.
Corruption remains widespread across the North Caucasus, and North Ossetia is no exception. The construction and infrastructure sectors are often considered among the most lucrative areas for corrupt practices by local officials. The ongoing expansion of the city of Vladikavkaz in particular has created further opportunities for corruption schemes connected to urban development and public procurement.
Ingushetia
The damage caused to Ingushetia by cryptocurrency mining farms has reportedly exceeded 415 million roubles. The Head of the Republic, Makhmud-Ali Kalimatov, raised this issue during the first spring session of the republic’s National Assembly. Since 1 January, Ingushetia has been among the Russian regions where cryptocurrency mining has been officially banned. According to regional authorities, many mining operations in the republic have been consuming illegally obtained electricity. In addition, the large energy demand generated by such activities has placed significant strain on the local electricity grid, leading to system overloads.
Cryptocurrency mining has become increasingly widespread in the North Caucasus. Several factors have contributed to the growth of this semi-formal economic activity: First, a number of regions possess hydroelectric power plants, which means that electricity is relatively abundant, particularly during nighttime hours, when surplus capacity is available. Second, many residents of mountainous areas benefit from discounted electricity tariffs and, in some cases, even receive electricity free of charge. This creates opportunities for individuals to exploit the system by consuming large amounts of electricity for cryptocurrency mining. Finally, local corrupt elites are also reportedly involved in the establishment of mining farms, often operating without official permits, and using illegally obtained electricity.
Chechnya
On 2 March, the well-known Chechen multimillionaire and former senator from Chechnya (2004-2009), Umar Dzhabrailov, died in Moscow. According to sources close to the businessman, he was found in his apartment with a gunshot wound. A firearm was found nearby, leading to initial speculation that he may have attempted suicide. He was subsequently hospitalised in a critical condition, but later died from his injuries. His daughter, Alvina Dzhabrailova, has rejected the suicide narrative, however, suggesting instead that her father may have been killed. Dzhabrailov was later buried in his ancestral village of Novye Atagi in Chechnya.
Umar Dzhabrailov was a controversial public figure. In one interview, he stated that his participation in the 2000 Russian presidential election was intended, in part, to counter criticism of Russia’s actions in Chechnya, and to demonstrate that “even an ethnic Chechen can run for president.” His name has also appeared in materials linked to Jeffrey Epstein, suggesting a personal acquaintance and reported visits to Epstein’s private island, although the full nature of these connections remains unclear. In addition, Dzhabrailov frequently attracted media attention due to his relationships with various celebrities. He was also reported to have struggled with drug addiction. Despite his controversial reputation, he maintained stable relations with Ramzan Kadyrov, and appeared alongside him on several occasions in Chechnya.
Dagestan
Up to 50 truck drivers from Dagestan, along with their vehicles, have reportedly become stranded in Iran near the Azerbaijani border. The situation arose after Azerbaijan tightened its border controls with Iran following the outbreak of the war. Previously, despite maintaining land border closures due to COVID-19 restrictions, Azerbaijan had continued to allow transit trucks to pass through its territory from Iran.
The stranded Dagestani drivers have complained that they have received little support from the Russian consulate in Iran, which they claim has failed to adequately defend their interests. In response, Russian officials have stated that diplomatic efforts are underway to secure permission for the drivers to cross Azerbaijani territory and return to Russia safely.
Dagestan serves as an important transit junction connecting Russia to Azerbaijan, and further to Iran and Pakistan. Restrictions at the Azerbaijani border often result in long queues of trucks, causing disruptions and delays in deliveries. Moreover, many mountainous communities in Dagestan are highly dependent on income derived from transit trucking. For instance, in villages such as Gubden and Kadar, the majority of men work as truck drivers, with the profession often passed down through generations. Any major disruption to transit routes therefore has a significant impact on their economic well-being.