Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria

Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria

With a land area of 12.500 km2 and the population of 865.000 (2018), the republic of Kabardino Balkaria lies in central North Caucasus. It is bordered by the republic of North Ossetia-Alania in the east, Georgia in the south, the republic of Karachay-Cherkessia in the west and Stavropol Krai in the north. Its capital is the city of Nalchik which has a population of approx. 300.000, while Bakhsan and Prokhladny are two other notable urban centers.

Founded in 1921 as Kabardian Autonomous Oblast following the establishment of the Soviet rule in the Caucasus, its name was changed to Kabardino-Balkaria Autonomous Oblast the following year. Its status was elevated to that of an autonomous republic within soviet Russia in 1936. When the Soviet administration deported the Balkar people en masse to Central Asia during the 2nd World War, its name was changed again to Kabardian Autonomous republic. Following the death of Stalin, the new Soviet administration allowed, from 1957 onwards, the Balkar people to return to their homeland which was once again called Kabardino-Balkarian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, it became one of the 21 national republics of the newly independent Russian Federation.

 

With its own local parliament, republican flag and other symbols of autonomous statehood including having three official languages, which are Circassian (aka Kabardian), Balkar and Russian, Kabardino-Balkaria’s population is consisted of Circassians (57%), Balkars (12%) and Russians (22%), making it the North Caucasian republic with the largest number of Circassian residents.