CHERKESS

Cherkess: translation

Ethnic group. The Cherkess, or Cherkessians, are a subgroup of theAdyghe. They number approximately 60,000 and are one of two titular nationalities in theKarachay-Cherkess Republic, comprising 11 percent of the population. As one of the severalCircassianpeoples, they have cultural and linguistic connections with theKabardinsand Abazins, as well as Adyghe who reside inAdygeya. Their nativelanguage, Adyghe, is part of the Northwest Caucasian language family. Ethnic friction with their numerically dominant TurkicKarachayneighbors flared in the wake of the 1999 presidential election in their shared republic.

See alsoEthnic violence.