Introduction
The most significant date in the North Caucasus in the past two weeks was 21 May, a day of profound historical significance for the Circassian people. On 21 May 1864, the final battle of the Russo–Caucasian War took place, in the area of present-day Sochi, between Russian forces and Circassian resistance fighters. Russia’s victory was followed by the mass expulsion of Circassians to the Ottoman Empire, and the depopulation of approximately 80 percent of their ancestral homeland.
The anniversary was commemorated across the three Circassian-populated republics: the Republic of Adygea, the Karachay-Cherkess Republic and the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic.
What follows are the main developments in the North Caucasus over the past two weeks.
Adyghea
On 21 May, a date that remains a cornerstone of Circassian historical memory, hundreds of residents of Maykop lit candles to commemorate the 162nd anniversary of the Circassian genocide. The event took place in front of the Adyghe Hearth monument in the city centre. Participants arranged candles in the shape of the Circassian flag. The commemoration was accompanied by traditional Circassian mourning songs dedicated to the exile and mass displacement of the Circassian people.
Despite pressure on Circassian activists, commemorative events marking 21 May were held in Maykop. Adygea is the only North Caucasian republic in which the titular ethnic group constitutes a minority, while ethnic Russians form the majority of the population.
For decades, Circassians in Adygea have commemorated this date. However, since the COVID-19 pandemic, security services have reportedly increased pressure on Circassian activists, and have imposed greater restrictions on memorial events. Unlike the commemorations of the deportations of the Chechen, Ingush, Balkar and Karachay peoples, which are often supported or organised by regional authorities, events dedicated to Circassian historical memory are generally not organised by local governments, and remain largely grassroots initiatives.
Karachaevo-Cherkesia
On 21 May, commemorative events dedicated to the victims of the Russo–Caucasian War were held in Cherkessk. Activists gathered near the memorial to the victims of the Caucasian War to honour those who had died during the conflict and its aftermath. At midday, a republic-wide minute of silence was observed. The commemoration concluded in the evening with a gathering at the memorial, where participants lit candles in memory of the victims.
In Karachaevo-Cherkesia, Circassians constitute a minority, and activism in the republic has not been as active as in neighbouring Kabardino-Balkaria and Adyghea. Nevertheless, historical memory is still an important factor for the local Circassians there. Even though the republic has long been ruled by ethnic Karachay elites, Circassians are still able to organise events independently from the local authorities.
Kabardino-Balkaria
Like neighbouring Circassian-populated republics, commemorative events marking the Circassian genocide were held on 21 May in Nalchik, the capital of Kabardino-Balkaria. According to reports, around 100,000 people participated in a rally that moved along Lenin Avenue before proceeding towards the Tree of Life monument.
Notably, the gathering in Nalchik was significantly larger than those held in Maykop and Cherkessk. One factor that may have contributed to the high turnout was the reported distribution of warning notices by local security services to activists in the days preceding the event, advising them not to attend the rally. Despite the scale of the commemoration, the local authorities were not involved in organising the event, which remained a grassroots initiative.
Kabardino-Balkaria has a larger Circassian population than the other Circassian-populated republics. Circassians constitute the dominant ethnic group in Nalchik, whereas in both Maykop and Cherkessk they represent a minority of the urban population. Moreover, Kabardino-Balkaria has long been a centre of Circassian nationalist activism. For example, during the war in Abkhazia, organisations such as the Confederation of Mountain Peoples of the Caucasus, headquartered in Nalchik, served as important structures for mobilising volunteers. Given this historical background and the demographic weight of the Circassian population in the republic, it is not surprising that the largest commemoration of 21 May took place in Nalchik.
North Ossetia
The former head of the Mamison tourist centre, Vyacheslav Ataev, gave an extensive interview to the North Ossetian news agency 15 Region, in which he discussed recent developments in the republic’s tourism sector. Ataev highlighted a shortage of qualified personnel, arguing that although around 60,000 people have graduated from tourism-related vocational programmes, only a small proportion have gone on acquire the practical skills necessary to work effectively in the industry. He also noted that the tourism sector in North Ossetia continues to lag behind in terms of modern standards, and has been slow to adopt contemporary digital technologies.
The Mamison ski resort is not merely a tourism project: it is a strategic initiative that gained momentum following the 2008 Russo–Georgian War, when the Russian authorities decided to develop tourism infrastructure around the Mamison Pass, including the construction of roads and related facilities.
From a strategic perspective, this infrastructure could eventually facilitate the expansion of transport links towards neighbouring Georgia, connecting North Ossetia with Georgia’s Racha region through the Mamison Pass. Such a development would enhance Russia’s access to the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus, and could increase its economic and geopolitical influence in the area. For this reason, the Mamison project is often viewed not only as an economic undertaking, but also as part of a larger strategy aimed at strengthening Russia’s presence in the central Caucasus.
Ingushetia
Ingush Muslim preacher Ahmed Tangiev has been arrested on charges of membership of a terrorist organisation. Following his detention, Tangiev was taken to Vladikavkaz for questioning, before being transferred to Saint Petersburg. According to investigators, Tangiev allegedly joined the Muslim Brotherhood, which is designated as a terrorist organisation in Russia, and participated in gatherings of its supporters in Saint Petersburg. Prior to his arrest, Tangiev served as Deputy Mufti of the Republic of Karelia in northern Russia.
Most arrests of Islamist activists in the North Caucasus are related to ISIS. In rarer cases, they involve followers of Batal-Khaji Belkharoev in Ingushetia or Hizb ut-Tahrir. However, this case is notable as it concerns the arrest of an alleged member of the Muslim Brotherhood. Although Russian authorities have at times expressed political solidarity with Palestine and Hamas, membership of the Muslim Brotherhood, an organisation that is sometimes described as ideologically connected to Hamas, has been criminalised in Russia.
Chechnya
The son of the head of Chechnya, Adam Kadyrov, aged 18, has been awarded a medal for his “contribution to the Special Military Operation.” According to Akhmed Dudaev, Deputy Chairman of the Chechen Government, the award was granted in recognition of Adam Kadyrov’s role as coordinator of the Russian University of Special Forces, a military training facility located in Gudermes, Chechnya. This is not the first distinction received by Adam Kadyrov. Since 2023, he has been awarded multiple official honours and medals by the authorities of Chechnya, as well as by several other North Caucasian republics.
Since being injured in a car accident, Adam Kadyrov has appeared less frequently in public. Observers have noted a noticeable change in his physical appearance, including significant weight loss. Some analysts and commentators have suggested that the accident may have marked a turning point in discussions surrounding a potential succession to the leadership of Chechnya. According to various insider accounts and media speculation, Ramzan Kadyrov is no longer promoting his younger son as prominently as before, and is instead seen as favouring his elder son, Akhmat Kadyrov, who currently serves as Minister of Sport.
Dagestan
Acting Prime Minister of Dagestan, Muslim Telyakavov, participated in a committee meeting on tourism investment projects chaired by Dmitry Chernyshenko. During the meeting, Telyakavov presented the proposed Caspian Seaside Cluster, which aims to develop a network of all-season seaside resorts along Dagestan’s coast of the Caspian Sea.
The Caspian Seaside Cluster forms part of Russia’s nationwide tourism initiative, Five Seas and Lake Baikal, which seeks to expand resort infrastructure across various regions of the country. According to official information, 25 investment agreements have already been signed within the framework of the Caspian Seaside Cluster, with a total declared value exceeding 100 billion roubles.
Despite its location on the Caspian Sea and its relatively warm climate, seaside tourism in Dagestan remains underdeveloped. Many coastal areas have been affected by unregulated and often chaotic residential construction, which has limited their attractiveness for tourism development. As a result, the republic will need to invest considerable resources in infrastructure before it can become a major seaside destination.
This is not the first attempt to develop tourism in Dagestan. In the 2010s, the Matlas Resort mountain ski resort was established in Khunzakh District as part of wider efforts to diversify the regional economy and attract visitors. While the resort has remained operational, its performance has been mixed, reflecting the larger challenges facing tourism development in the republic.