Against the background of the weakening and subsequent destruction of the Russian Empire at the beginning of the 20th century, new states began to appear on its ruins. In 1918, the North Caucasian peoples proclaimed the creation of an independent Mountain Republic, consisting of seven national entities. For a short period of its existence, the country was recognized by several states interested in weakening Russia.
Background
With the strengthening of the revolutionary movement in Russia, and as a result of the weakening of central authority, centrifugal tendencies intensified in the country. In May 1917, a congress of North Caucasian peoples was held in Vladikavkaz, which announced the creation of the Union of the United Highlanders of the North Caucasus and Dagestan. Which subsequently became the forerunner of the creation of an independent Highland Republic. The main efforts of the Union were focused on the creation of a common Caucasian state in the form of a confederation.
Prominent representatives of the highlanders of other nationalities took part in the organization of the associations. Including future leaders of the mountain republic Abdul Majid (Tapa) Chermoev (Chechen) and Przemaho Kotsev (Kabardian) and her Foreign Minister Gaidar Bammat (Dagestan).
The future head of Denikin’s Chechnya, General Eliskhan Aliyev and Nazhmudin Gotsinsky, subsequently proclaimed a mufti of the North Caucasus, took an active part in state building. The second congress was to be held in the Dagestan village of Andi, where not all delegates arrived. And they could not work out a common solution. Some proposed the creation of a religious state like the Imamat of Imam Shamil, but others felt that the times were different and that one had to follow the secular path.
State foundation
In the spring of 1918, amid the unfolding Civil War, the mountain leaders began to seek support from Turkey, Germany and Austria, which operated in the Caucasus. At the beginning of May of the same year, the creation of the Mountain Republic was proclaimed at the Batumi Conference. The Highlanders' Union was the first government led by the Chechen oilman Abdul Majid (Tapa) Chermoev, the son of a general in the Russian army. Next year, a delegation of the North Caucasian peoples, at a peace conference in Paris, made efforts to establish relations with various countries, including France, the United States, England, Italy and Japan. But to no avail.
Turkey, Germany and the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic immediately officially recognized the new state. Some countries have opened representations under the North Caucasian government. And Azerbaijan even allocated a loan of 8 million rubles for the development of the economy and armament of the army, which was never repaid.
Symbols of power
During its existence (from May 1918 to May 1919), three leaders were replaced in the new republic. After Chermoev, the second was Kabardian Przemaho Kotsev, and then the North Caucasian government was led by the Dagestan Mikhail Khalilov.
The flag design of the Mountain Republic was developed by the famous Dagestan artist Halilbek Musayasul. It existed in two versions: with green or red stripes and asterisks in the upper left corner. More famous first option is still used by immigrants from the North Caucasus. Many have noted the resemblance to a star-striped American flag. Some researchers think that the artist did consciously copy the style, associating the United States with a free country.
First flight
The highland government was recognized in a relatively small area of the North Caucasus. The main cities were ruled by councils of deputies and local governments, which received support from red Astrakhan and soldiers returning home from the front.
After the outbreak of the Civil War in the Caucasus and the aggravation of interethnic conflicts, the government finally lost power and actually disintegrated. The rest of the leadership fled to Georgia.
The collapse of the republic
In May 1918, in the Batumi occupied by Turkish troops, the second government of the Mountain Republic began to work. Which announced the abolition of all decrees of the Soviet government, the return to the owners of their previously pastures, forests and water resources. Agreements were concluded with the Cossack and White Guard units on a joint struggle against the Reds, and the formation of their own army was begun.
However, in May 1919, the territory of the North Caucasus took control of the troops of General Denikin. General Khalilov announced self-dissolution, for which many still condemn him. But 1,500 poorly armed highlanders could not resist the 5,000 white troops. The mountain republic lasted one year and 13 days.
In the country of councils
In January 1921, a constituent congress was held in Vladikavkaz, at which, on behalf of the Soviet government, I. V. Stalin made a report by the People's Commissar for Nationalities. Stalin said that they recognize the internal sovereignty of the mountain peoples, for which they have fought for centuries. And he proposed the creation of the Mountain Soviet Republic (socialist) with broad autonomy rights. The congress agreed, provided that: the central government does not interfere in internal affairs; people will live according to the laws of Sharia and Adat; The lands taken from the local population by the tsarist government will be returned.
All conditions were accepted by the parties, some lands were returned to the Ingush and Chechens, part of the Cossack villages were resettled deep into Russia. The congress established the Mountain Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. It included the following districts: Chechnya, Ingushetia, Ossetia, Kabarda, Balkaria and Karachay. Their population at that time was 1.286 million people. The Mountain Autonomous Republic lasted until 1924, when it was divided into national autonomous regions by decree of the Central Government.