Confederation of Mountain Peoples of the Caucasus
Encyclopedia
Confederation of Mountain Peoples of the Caucasus is a militarized political organization composed of militants from the North Caucasian
republics of the Russian Federation. This controversial organization, later renamed into the Confederation of the Peoples of the Caucasus (CPC), was formed on the eve of the Soviet Union
’s collapse in 1990. The Confederation and its mercenaries are primarily known for their key role in the Abkhaz-Georgian conflict
and the contribution to the secessionists’ victory in the 1992-1993 hostilities. The CPC has been accused of committing war crimes and ethnic cleansing of Georgians
during the conflict in Abkhazia
. These allegations are currently investigated by International Criminal Court
in Hague. The CPC persists to this day, but plays no role in the current political situation.
, the Assembly of North Caucasian Peoples voted to establish a "Mountain Peoples Confederacy." 16 nations of the Caucasus joined the Confederation. The Assembly elected the president (Musa Shanibov) and 16 vice-presidents. Yusup Soslanbekov was the chairman of the Caucasian Parliament and Sultan Sosnaliyev
was appointed the head of the Confederation's military department.
At the end of August 1992 the Confederation held the 11th Session of Parliament in Grozny
to discuss the Abkhazian issue. A clear purpose of the establishment of this organization became obvious after this Session. The Confederation created assault detachments of volunteers with that were later deployed in Abkhazia during the war. The confederation raised about 1,500 volunteers, half of them reportedly from Chechnya. It has also been reported that notorious Chechen warlord Shamil Basayev
became commander of CMPC forces in 1992.
The president of the Confederation Musa Shanibov and the chairman of the parliament Iysuph Soslanbekov made an official statement: "As there is no other way to withdraw Georgian occupants' army from Abkhazia, we order: 1. All headquarters of the Confederation have to dispatch the volunteers to the territory of Abkhazia to put military resistance. 2. Military formations of the Confederation have to conduct military operations against any forces to suspend their movement to Abkhazia. 3. Announce Tbilisi as a zone of disaster. 4. All Georgian nationals on the territory of Confederation are to be taken hostage. 5. All type of cargoes directed to Georgia shall be detained. 6. Report about readiness is to be sent to the headquarter by August 22, 1992".
The Central Headquarters of the Confederation led by Yusup Soslanbekov had been in charged to implement practical measures against the "enemies of Abkhazian people". CMPC forces took place in the storming operation of Gagra
where hundreds of civilians were killed.
On October 3, Abkhazian and Confederate formations launched a full scale attack on villages of Kamani
and Shroma (near Gumista River) that was repelled by Georgian forces.
in return for cease-fire) by storming defenceless Sukhumi. The Confederates moved in Sukhumi and started to sweep through streets of the city. As the city was engulfed by heavy fighting, civilians took refuge in abandoned houses and apartment buildings. Some of the civilians of Georgian ethnicity were massacred after the discovery by the Confederates. By late afternoon the remainder of Georgian troops surrendered to the Abkhaz side. Majority of Georgian POWs were executed on the same day by Abkhaz formations and Confederates. Few civilians and military personnel managed to survive the massacre. The massacre continued for two weeks after the fall of Sukhumi (See Ethnic cleansing of Georgians in Abkhazia
).
. However, the change of power in Shanibov’s home republic, Kabardino-Balkaria
, in favor of strongly pro-Moscow leader, prevented him from exerting any political influence in the region, forcing him to retire from politics in 1996. Since then, the organization has had no role in the Caucasus affairs. It never disbanded, but has been completely inactive since Shanibov’s successor, Yusup Soslambekov, was assassinated in Moscow on July 27, 2000.
North Caucasian
North Caucasian may refer to:*North Caucasus*North Caucasian languages*North Caucasian peoples...
republics of the Russian Federation. This controversial organization, later renamed into the Confederation of the Peoples of the Caucasus (CPC), was formed on the eve of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
’s collapse in 1990. The Confederation and its mercenaries are primarily known for their key role in the Abkhaz-Georgian conflict
Georgian-Abkhaz conflict
The Georgian–Abkhazian conflict refers to the ethnic conflict between Georgians and Abkhazians in Abkhazia, which is presently a de facto independent partially recognized republic...
and the contribution to the secessionists’ victory in the 1992-1993 hostilities. The CPC has been accused of committing war crimes and ethnic cleansing of Georgians
Ethnic cleansing of Georgians in Abkhazia
The Ethnic Cleansing of Georgians in Abkhazia, also known as the Massacres of Georgians in Abkhazia and Genocide of Georgians in Abkhazia — refers to ethnic cleansing, massacres and forced mass expulsion of thousands of ethnic Georgians living in Abkhazia during the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict...
during the conflict in Abkhazia
Abkhazia
Abkhazia is a disputed political entity on the eastern coast of the Black Sea and the south-western flank of the Caucasus.Abkhazia considers itself an independent state, called the Republic of Abkhazia or Apsny...
. These allegations are currently investigated by International Criminal Court
International Criminal Court
The International Criminal Court is a permanent tribunal to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression .It came into being on 1 July 2002—the date its founding treaty, the Rome Statute of the...
in Hague. The CPC persists to this day, but plays no role in the current political situation.
Creation
On November 4, 1990, in NalchikNalchik
Nalchik is the capital city of the Kabardino-Balkar Republic, Russia, situated at an altitude of in the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains; about northwest of Beslan in the Republic of North Ossetia–Alania. It covers an area of...
, the Assembly of North Caucasian Peoples voted to establish a "Mountain Peoples Confederacy." 16 nations of the Caucasus joined the Confederation. The Assembly elected the president (Musa Shanibov) and 16 vice-presidents. Yusup Soslanbekov was the chairman of the Caucasian Parliament and Sultan Sosnaliyev
Sultan Sosnaliyev
Sultan Sosnaliyev was a commander of Abkhaz and allied forces during the War in Abkhazia and a defence minister of Abkhazia in 1993-1996 and 2005-2007.-Early life:Sultan Sosnaliyev was born in Baksan in Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia, to Kabardin parents...
was appointed the head of the Confederation's military department.
War in Abkhazia
In 1991 the Confederation interfered into Abkhaz-Georgian relations, asking the Russian Federation to "give political evaluation to the situation".At the end of August 1992 the Confederation held the 11th Session of Parliament in Grozny
Grozny
Grozny is the capital city of the Chechen Republic, Russia. The city lies on the Sunzha River. According to the preliminary results of the 2010 Census, the city had a population of 271,596; up from 210,720 recorded in the 2002 Census. but still only about two-thirds of 399,688 recorded in the 1989...
to discuss the Abkhazian issue. A clear purpose of the establishment of this organization became obvious after this Session. The Confederation created assault detachments of volunteers with that were later deployed in Abkhazia during the war. The confederation raised about 1,500 volunteers, half of them reportedly from Chechnya. It has also been reported that notorious Chechen warlord Shamil Basayev
Shamil Basayev
Shamil Salmanovich Basayev was a Chechen militant Islamist and a leader of the Chechen rebel movement.Starting as a field commander in the Transcaucasus, Basayev led guerrilla campaigns against the Russian troops for years, as well as launching mass-hostage takings of civilians, with his goal...
became commander of CMPC forces in 1992.
The president of the Confederation Musa Shanibov and the chairman of the parliament Iysuph Soslanbekov made an official statement: "As there is no other way to withdraw Georgian occupants' army from Abkhazia, we order: 1. All headquarters of the Confederation have to dispatch the volunteers to the territory of Abkhazia to put military resistance. 2. Military formations of the Confederation have to conduct military operations against any forces to suspend their movement to Abkhazia. 3. Announce Tbilisi as a zone of disaster. 4. All Georgian nationals on the territory of Confederation are to be taken hostage. 5. All type of cargoes directed to Georgia shall be detained. 6. Report about readiness is to be sent to the headquarter by August 22, 1992".
The Central Headquarters of the Confederation led by Yusup Soslanbekov had been in charged to implement practical measures against the "enemies of Abkhazian people". CMPC forces took place in the storming operation of Gagra
Battle of Gagra
The Battle of Gagra was fought between Georgian forces and the Abkhaz secessionists aided by the Confederation of Mountain Peoples of the Caucasus militants from October 1 to October 6, 1992 during the War in Abkhazia...
where hundreds of civilians were killed.
On October 3, Abkhazian and Confederate formations launched a full scale attack on villages of Kamani
Kamani
Kamani is a village in Bhamo Township in Bhamo District in the Kachin State of north-eastern Burma..It is also the Hawaiian name for the tropical tree Calophyllum inophyllum.-External links:*...
and Shroma (near Gumista River) that was repelled by Georgian forces.
Sukhumi Massacre
On September 27, 1993 the Abkhaz side violated the UN-mediated cease-fire agreement (Georgian side has agreed to pull out all heavy artillery and tanks from SukhumiSukhumi
Sukhumi is the capital of Abkhazia, a disputed region on the Black Sea coast. The city suffered heavily during the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict in the early 1990s.-Naming:...
in return for cease-fire) by storming defenceless Sukhumi. The Confederates moved in Sukhumi and started to sweep through streets of the city. As the city was engulfed by heavy fighting, civilians took refuge in abandoned houses and apartment buildings. Some of the civilians of Georgian ethnicity were massacred after the discovery by the Confederates. By late afternoon the remainder of Georgian troops surrendered to the Abkhaz side. Majority of Georgian POWs were executed on the same day by Abkhaz formations and Confederates. Few civilians and military personnel managed to survive the massacre. The massacre continued for two weeks after the fall of Sukhumi (See Ethnic cleansing of Georgians in Abkhazia
Ethnic cleansing of Georgians in Abkhazia
The Ethnic Cleansing of Georgians in Abkhazia, also known as the Massacres of Georgians in Abkhazia and Genocide of Georgians in Abkhazia — refers to ethnic cleansing, massacres and forced mass expulsion of thousands of ethnic Georgians living in Abkhazia during the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict...
).
Later history
Following the Abkhazian war, the Confederation went into a period of decline due largely to the feuds among its pro- and anti-Kremlin factions. It experienced a brief revival in December 1994, when Shanibov rallied thousands across the North Caucasus to block roads to the Russian forces heading to GroznyGrozny
Grozny is the capital city of the Chechen Republic, Russia. The city lies on the Sunzha River. According to the preliminary results of the 2010 Census, the city had a population of 271,596; up from 210,720 recorded in the 2002 Census. but still only about two-thirds of 399,688 recorded in the 1989...
. However, the change of power in Shanibov’s home republic, Kabardino-Balkaria
Kabardino-Balkaria
The Kabardino-Balkar Republic , or Kabardino-Balkaria , is a federal subject of Russia located in the North Caucasus. Population: -Geography:The republic is situated in the North Caucasus mountains, with plains in the northern part....
, in favor of strongly pro-Moscow leader, prevented him from exerting any political influence in the region, forcing him to retire from politics in 1996. Since then, the organization has had no role in the Caucasus affairs. It never disbanded, but has been completely inactive since Shanibov’s successor, Yusup Soslambekov, was assassinated in Moscow on July 27, 2000.