Cherkessk

---

title: "Cherkessk" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["cherkessk", "populated-places-established-in-1825", "1825-establishments-in-the-russian-empire", "kuban-oblast"] description: "City in the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, Russia" topic_path: "geography/russia" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherkessk" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary City in the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, Russia ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox Russian inhabited locality"]

Field	Value
en_name	Cherkessk
ru_name	Черкесск
image_skyline	{{multiple image
border	infobox
perrow	1/2/2/2/2
total_width	250
image1	The city of Cherkessk.jpg
image2	Никольский собор, Черкесск, КЧР.jpg
image3	Памятник "Дружба народов" , Черкесск 02.jpg
image4	Мечеть в Черкесске.jpg
image5	Cherkessk - Cinema building.jpg
footer	From the top to bottom-right, Aerial view of the City, Saint Nicholas Cathedral, Friendship Monument, Central Mosque, Soviet-Era Cinema Building}}
coordinates
image_flag	Flag of Cherkessk (Karachay-Cherkessia).png
image_coa	Coat of Arms of Cherkessk (Karachay-Cherkessia).png
federal_subject	Karachay-Cherkess Republic
adm_inhabloc_jur	city of republic significance of Cherkessk
adm_inhabloc_jur_ref
capital_of	Karachay-Cherkess Republic
capital_of_ref
adm_ctr_of1	city of republic significance of Cherkessk
adm_ctr_of1_ref
inhabloc_cat	City
urban_okrug_jur	Cherkessk Urban Okrug
urban_okrug_jur_ref
mun_admctr_of1	Cherkessk Urban Okrug
mun_admctr_of1_ref
leader_title	Mayor
leader_name	Alexey Baskaev
leader_name_ref
area_km2	69.8
pop_2010census	129069
pop_2010census_rank	127th
pop_2010census_ref
pop_density	1849.12
established_date	1825
current_cat_date	1931
postal_codes	3690XX
dialing_codes	8782
website	http://cherkessk09.ru/
date
::

| en_name = Cherkessk | ru_name = Черкесск | loc_name1 = | loc_lang1 = | loc_name2 = | loc_lang2 = | loc_name3 = | loc_lang3 = | loc_name4 = | loc_lang4 = | other_name = | other_lang = | image_skyline = {{multiple image | border = infobox | perrow = 1/2/2/2/2 | total_width = 250 | image1 = The city of Cherkessk.jpg | image2 = Никольский собор, Черкесск, КЧР.jpg | image3 = Памятник "Дружба народов" , Черкесск 02.jpg | image4 = Мечеть в Черкесске.jpg | image5 = Cherkessk - Cinema building.jpg | footer = From the top to bottom-right, Aerial view of the City, Saint Nicholas Cathedral, Friendship Monument, Central Mosque, Soviet-Era Cinema Building}} | image_caption = | image_map = | map_caption Hvjvj = | coordinates = | image_flag = Flag of Cherkessk (Karachay-Cherkessia).png | flag_caption = | image_coa = Coat of Arms of Cherkessk (Karachay-Cherkessia).png | coa_caption = | anthem = | anthem_ref = | holiday = | holiday_ref = | federal_subject = Karachay-Cherkess Republic | federal_subject_ref = | adm_district_jur = | adm_district_jur_ref = | adm_inhabloc_jur = city of republic significance of Cherkessk | adm_inhabloc_jur_ref = | adm_citydistrict_jur = | adm_citydistrict_type = | adm_citydistrict_jur_ref = | adm_selsoviet_jur = | adm_selsoviet_type = | adm_selsoviet_jur_ref = | capital_of = Karachay-Cherkess Republic | capital_of_ref = | adm_ctr_of1 = city of republic significance of Cherkessk | adm_ctr_of1_ref = | adm_ctr_of2 = | adm_ctr_of2_ref = | adm_ctr_of3 = | adm_ctr_of3_ref = | inhabloc_cat = City | inhabloc_cat_ref = | inhabloc_type = | inhabloc_type_ref = | mun_district_jur = | mun_district_jur_ref = | urban_okrug_jur = Cherkessk Urban Okrug | urban_okrug_jur_ref = | urban_settlement_jur = | urban_settlement_jur_ref = | rural_settlement_jur = | rural_settlement_jur_ref = | inter_settlement_territory = | inter_settlement_territory_ref = | mun_admctr_of1 = Cherkessk Urban Okrug | mun_admctr_of1_ref = | mun_admctr_of2 = | mun_admctr_of2_ref = | leader_title = Mayor | leader_title_ref = | leader_name = Alexey Baskaev | leader_name_ref = | representative_body = | representative_body_ref = | elevation_m = | area_km2 = 69.8 | area_km2_ref = | pop_2010census = 129069 | pop_2010census_rank = 127th | pop_2010census_ref = | pop_density = 1849.12 | pop_latest = | pop_latest_date = | pop_latest_ref = | population_demonym = | time_zone_ref = | established_date = 1825 | established_title = | established_date_ref = | current_cat_date = 1931 | current_cat_date_ref = | abolished_date = | abolished_date_ref = | postal_codes = 3690XX | postal_codes_ref = | dialing_codes = 8782 | dialing_codes_ref = | website = http://cherkessk09.ru/ |date=|pushpin_map=Russia Karachay-Cherkessia#European Russia#Russia#Europe}} Cherkessk (; Adyghe: Шэрджэс къалэ; Kabardian: Черкес-къалэ) is the capital city of Karachay-Cherkessia, Russia, as well as its political, economic, and cultural center. Population: 112,782 (2024).

It was previously known as Batalpashinskaya (until 1931), Batalpashinsk (until 1934), Sulimov (until 1937), Yezhovo-Cherkessk (until 1939).

Names

In Russian, the city is called Черке́сск (Čerkessk) and has similar names in the languages of the city's other major ethnic groups. In Karachay, it is Черкесск (Çerkessk) or Черкесск шахар (Çerkessk şahar); in Kabardian, it is Шэрджэс къалэ (Şărdjăs qală) or Черке́сск (Čerkessk); in Abaza, it is Черкес къала (Čerkes q̇ala) or Черкесск (Čerkessk); in Nogai, it is Шеркеш шахар (Şerkeş şahar) and in Chechen, it is Черкесск (Čerkessk).

For its first century of existence, Cherkessk was a stanitsa, a village inside a Cossack host, which from 1825 to 1931 was named Batalpashinskaya stanitsa (Russian: Баталпашинская станица Batalpašinskaja stanica) and then in quick succession Sulimov (Сулимов Sulimov) in 1934 for Daniil Sulimov, Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the Russian SFSR, and following Sulimov's execution in the Great Purge, Yezhovo-Cherkessk (Ежово-Черкесск Ježovo-Čerkessk) in 1937 for Nikolai Yezhov, head of the NKVD. With Yezhov's arrest, the initial "Yezhovo-" was dropped, and the city received its present name in 1939.

History

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/67/Важная_выписка_из_постановления_ВЦИК_-_panoramio.jpg" caption="Extract from the decree of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee"] ::

What is now Cherkessk was established in 1804 as a Russian military fort on the Kuban River, what was then the border with Circassia, on the spot where in 1790 Russian troops under the command of General Johann Hermann von Fersen (Ivan Ivanovich Herman fon Fersen) defeated the Ottoman Batal Pasha. In honor of the victory over Batal Pasha, the fort was named Batalpashinskaya; it was a redoubt surrounded by an earthen rampart and ditch. (That the fort was named for an enemy leader may have led villagers to prefer the nickname Pashinka.)

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/09/Памятник_"Дружба_народов"_,_Черкесск.jpg" caption="Friendship of the People's Monument"] ::

The settlement itself was founded as the Cossack stanitsa of Batalpashinskaya near the Russian Army outpost. The officially recognized year of founding of Batalpashinskaya and modern Cherkessk is 1825. However, the Cossack settlers from the Khopyour and Kuban regiments began arriving in the newly organized stanitsa not earlier than spring of 1826. In 1860, the village was designated as the administrative center of the Batalpashinsky Otdel of the Kuban Oblast. and Batalpashinskaya remained a stanitsa until the Soviet times. In 1888, the village became a seat of one of Kuban's seven departments.

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/Памятник_советским_воинам,_погибшим_в_годы_Великой_Отечественной_войны_площадь_Кирова,,_Черкесск.jpg" caption="Monument to the Soviet Soldiers of Cherkessk"] ::

In 1922, the village became the seat of the Karachay-Cherkess Autonomous Oblast of the RSFSR, and in 1926, the Cherkess National Okrug. In 1931, it was granted town status and renamed Batalpashinsk. It received its current name of Cherkessk in 1939. The city was occupied by the Nazi German Wehrmacht during World War II (the Eastern Front) from 11 August 1942 to 17 January 1943 as part of the Case Blue offensive. In 1957, it became the capital of the reformed Karachay-Cherkess Autonomous Oblast which became the Karachay–Cherkess Republic in 1991 with the fall of the Soviet Union.

Administrative and municipal status

Cherkessk is the capital of the republic. Within the framework of administrative divisions, it is incorporated as the city of republic significance of Cherkessk—an administrative unit with the status equal to that of the districts. As a municipal division, the city of republic significance of Cherkessk is incorporated as Cherkessk Urban Okrug.

Population

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/27/ЗиУ_682г-016.05_№56.jpg" caption="Cherkessk Mosque under construction"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d7/Cerkiew_Czerkiesk.jpg" caption="St. Nicholas Cathedral, Cherkessk"] ::

The population of Cherkessk was 129,069 in the 2010 Census, 116,244 in the 2002 Census and 113,060 in the 1989 Soviet Census.

Ethnic groups

The city is inhabited by Russians, native Cherkess (Circassians), Karachays, Abaza, Nogays and minorities of Ukrainians, Greeks and Armenians.

1926

According to the First All-Union Census of the Soviet Union of 1926, inhabitants of Batalpashinsk (present-day Cherkessk) included:

• Russians (82.7%)
• Ukrainians (9.0%)
• Karachays (0.8%)
• Greeks (Pontic Greeks) (0.2%)

1939

The 1937 census results were suppressed and destroyed but the Soviet census of 1939 recorded:

• Russians (87.6%)
• Ukrainians (3.6%)
• Abazin (1.5%)
• Adyghes (i.e. Circassian) (1.4%)
• Karachays (0.8%)
• Ossetians (0.5%)
• Nogais (0.5%)
• Greeks (0.5%)

1959

The Soviet census of 1959 recorded:

• Russians (87.7%)
• Ukrainians (2.8%)
• Circassian (2.1%)
• Abazins (1.8%)
• Karachays (1.6%)
• Nogais (0.4%)
• Greeks (0.4%)
• Ossetians (0.4%)

1970

The Soviet census of 1970 recorded:

• Russians (74.5%)
• Circassian (6.4%)
• Karachays (6.2%)
• Abazins (5.0%)
• Ukrainians (2.1%)
• Nogais (1.0%)
• Greeks (0.5%)
• Ossetians (0.5%)

1989

According to the 1989 data from the final Soviet census, the population of the city included:

• Russians (67.8%)
• Circassian (9.0%)
• Karachays (7.8%)
• Abazins (6.5%)
• Ukrainians (2.2%)
• Nogais (1.2%)
• Ossetians (0.5%)
• Greeks (0.5%)

2002

In 2002, the Russian census reported the population including:

• Russians (55.5%)
• Karachays (13.8%)
• Circassian (12.6%)
• Abazins (8.1%)
• Nogais (1.5%)
• Ukrainians (1.3%)
• Ossetians (0.6%)
• Greeks (Pontic Greeks) (0.4%)
• Other (6.1%)

2010

In 2010, the population included:

• Russians (54.7%)
• Karachays (16.4%)
• Circassian (13.2%)
• Abazins (8.2%)
• Nogais (1.5%)
• Other (6.0%)

2021

In 2021, the population included:

• Russians (45.5%)
• Karachays (23.8%)
• Circassians (16%)
• Abazins (9.5%)
• Nogais (1.5%)
• Other (3.7%)

Climate

| metric first = yes | single line = Yes | location = Cherkessk (1991-2020 normals) |temperature colour = | Jan mean C =-2.1 | Feb mean C =-1.3 | Mar mean C =3.6 | Apr mean C =9.7 | May mean C =15.1 | Jun mean C =19.1 | Jul mean C =21.8 | Aug mean C =21.4 | Sep mean C =16.6 | Oct mean C =10.6 | Nov mean C =3.8 | Dec mean C =-0.3 | year mean C = | precipitation colour = green | Jan precipitation mm =22 | Feb precipitation mm =22 | Mar precipitation mm =37 | Apr precipitation mm =52 | May precipitation mm =79 | Jun precipitation mm =98 | Jul precipitation mm =64 | Aug precipitation mm =65 | Sep precipitation mm =52 | Oct precipitation mm =47 | Nov precipitation mm =32 | Dec precipitation mm =27 | year precipitation mm =

| unit precipitation days = 1 mm | Jan precipitation days =6 | Feb precipitation days =5 | Mar precipitation days =7 | Apr precipitation days =8 | May precipitation days =10 | Jun precipitation days =11 | Jul precipitation days =8 | Aug precipitation days =7 | Sep precipitation days =7 | Oct precipitation days =7 | Nov precipitation days =6 | Dec precipitation days =6 | year precipitation days =

| Jan sun =94 | Feb sun =118 | Mar sun =139 | Apr sun =190 | May sun =232 | Jun sun =258 | Jul sun =296 | Aug sun =279 | Sep sun =215 | Oct sun =156 | Nov sun =115 | Dec sun =94 | year sun =

|source = Климатические нормы

| metric first = yes | single line = Yes | location = Cherkessk |temperature colour = |humidity colour = |rain colour = green | Jan high C =2.1 | Feb high C =3.9 | Mar high C =8.2 | Apr high C =14.0 | May high C =18.7 | Jun high C =22.6 | Jul high C =25.6 | Aug high C =26.1 | Sep high C =20.9 | Oct high C =14.9 | Nov high C =8.8 | Dec high C =3.8 | year high C = | Jan mean C =-3.0 | Feb mean C =-1.3 | Mar mean C =2.9 | Apr mean C =8.7 | May mean C =13.9 | Jun mean C =18.1 | Jul mean C =20.9 | Aug mean C =21.0 | Sep mean C =15.9 | Oct mean C =9.7 | Nov mean C =3.3 | Dec mean C =-1.2 | year mean C = | Jan low C =-7.4 | Feb low C =-5.9 | Mar low C =-2.4 | Apr low C =2.7 | May low C =8.1 | Jun low C =12.3 | Jul low C =15.1 | Aug low C =15.4 | Sep low C =10.7 | Oct low C =5.1 | Nov low C =-0.8 | Dec low C =-5.2 | year low C = | Jan rain mm =38.3 | Feb rain mm =29.5 | Mar rain mm =62.5 | Apr rain mm =57.8 | May rain mm =120.4 | Jun rain mm =95.7 | Jul rain mm =58.7 | Aug rain mm =46 | Sep rain mm =60 | Oct rain mm =50.9 | Nov rain mm =37.1 | Dec rain mm =35.9

| Jan snow cm = 15.6 | Feb snow cm = 6.2 | Mar snow cm = 11.2 | Apr snow cm = 3.4 | May snow cm = 0.0 | Jun snow cm = 0.0 | Jul snow cm = 0.0 | Aug snow cm = 0.0 | Sep snow cm = 0.0 | Oct snow cm = 1.9 | Nov snow cm = 7.7 | Dec snow cm = 14.3 | year snow cm = | Jan rain days =9 | Feb rain days =7 | Mar rain days =9 | Apr rain days =7 | May rain days =13 | Jun rain days =12 | Jul rain days =7 | Aug rain days =6 | Sep rain days =6 | Oct rain days =5 | Nov rain days =5 | Dec rain days =7 | year rain days = | Jan humidity =83 | Feb humidity =79 | Mar humidity =75 | Apr humidity =67 | May humidity =67 | Jun humidity =67 | Jul humidity =64 | Aug humidity =66 | Sep humidity =67 | Oct humidity =74 | Nov humidity =78 | Dec humidity =82 | year humidity =

| Jand sun =3.7 | Febd sun =4.2 | Mard sun =4.8 | Aprd sun =6.2 | Mayd sun =7.8 | Jund sun =9.1 | Juld sun =9.3 | Augd sun =9.2 | Sepd sun =7.7 | Octd sun =5.9 | Novd sun =3.8 | Decd sun =3.1 | yeard sun = | Jan uv =1 | Feb uv =2 | Mar uv =2 | Apr uv =3 | May uv =4 | Jun uv =4 | Jul uv =6 | Aug uv =5 | Sep uv =4 | Oct uv =2 | Nov uv =2 | Dec uv =2 | year uv =

|source = Climate data(Temperatures 1991-2021)Weather2visit, World weather online (rainfall-snowfall-UV 2009-2023)

Education

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5e/Cherkessk_academy.jpg" caption="Cherkessk academy"] ::

Cherkessk is home to the following education institutions:

• North Caucasian State Academy: civil engineering, mechanical engineering, energy engineering, business management, accounting, finance, medical school. www.kchgta.ru
• Moscow Social Open University (branch)
• Moscow Modern Arts Institute (branch)
• Rostov State Economic University (branch)
• Karachay-Cherkess State College
• Daurov Art College: art, interior design, music, choreography divisions
• Republican Children Art School: music, art, choreography divisions

Culture

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/09/RU_TCH_DN_4.jpg" caption="Tourism sign for Cherkessk"] ::

• Drama Theater: ethnic, modern and classical plays
• State Philharmonic: classical and ethnic orchestra performances
• Elbrus State Ensemble: ethnic North Caucasian dances, dance studio
• Ensemble of Cossack Dance and Song: ethnic performances

Sport

• The association football team FC Inter Cherkessk play at the Stadium Nart. FC Nart Cherkessk previously played there, until they were dissolved in 2004.
• The demolished Dombay Stadium or Motodrom was a motorcycle speedway stadium located south of the Stadium Nart and Green Island off Ulitsa Michurina (). The stadium hosted important events including the Continental Speedway final round of the Speedway World Championship in 1972 and a semi final of the 1991 Speedway Under-21 World Championship.
• The Cherkessk speedway team (under various nicknames) regularly participated in the Soviet Union Championship from 1972 through to 1992 and then during 1993, in the Russian Championship, winning the bronze medal in 1993.

Notable people

• David Safaryan, World champion in freestyle wrestling representing Armenia

References

Notes

Sources

References

1. (June 19, 2020). "Главой Черкесска избран бывший заммэра города Алексей Баскаев".
2. "Rosstat2024".
3. "KNAB, the Place Names Database of EKI". Eki.ee.
4. and nicknamed '''Pashinka''' ({{lang. ru. Пашинка ''Pašinka'') In 1931, it was renamed '''Batalpashinsk''' ({{lang. ru. ru
5. В. А. Колесников. Былое Невинного Мыса. К 185-летию переселения Хопёрского казачьего полка на Кубань и основания станицы Невиномысской. Ставрополь. «ЮРКИТ» 2011. {{in lang. ru
6. A decree of 30 December 1869 by [[Alexander II of Russia. Tsar Alexander II]] transformed the village into a city of Batalpashinsk but the decree was never implemented,Филиппов Е. В. Город Баталпашинск: проекты и реалии. {{in lang. ru
7. Law #84-RZ
8. Law #41-RZ
9. {{ru-pop-ref. 2002Census
10. {{ru-pop-ref. 1989Census
11. [http://www.ethno-kavkaz.narod.ru/rnkchr.html Этнокавказ. Национальный состав КЧР по переписям 1926—2002] {{in lang. ru
12. "Население по национальной принадлежности, владению русским языком и его использованию по городским и муниципальным округам КЧР". Rosstat.
13. "Climatic Norms". Hydrometeo Center of Russia.
14. "Cherkessk Climate".
15. "Cherkessk monthly weather averages".
16. "Annual weather averages - Cherkessk, Karachay-Cherkess, RU".
17. (2013-09-30). "Северо-Кавказская государственная гуманитарно-технологическая академия {{pipe}} СевКавГГТА". Kchgta.ru.
18. "World Championship".
19. "World Championship".
20. "Soviet Union Team Championship".
21. "Russian Team Championship".
22. "Soviet Union & Russian Team Championship".

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