ABSTRACT

The Northern Caucasus is a special region of the Russian Federation, characterised by the many different ethnic groups inhabiting it. Some of these are similar in language and culture. Such are the Kabartay, Cherkes (Circasssians) and Adyghe on the one hand and the Turkic Balkars and Karachai on the other. The Chechens, Ingush and the various peoples of Daghestan have common linguistic, cultural and historical roots.