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98 
 
During this period, leaders of the North Caucasian Republic were, naturally, 
collaborating with the Turks. In order to coordinate the activities of Ottoman 
armies in the region, two representatives of the government, Pshemaho Kotsev and 
Vassan Girey Jabagiev came to Tiflis. From there, it was planned to organize a 
military expedition to Dagestan, relying mainly on a battalion mainly of Turkish 
Circassians, led by Yusuf İzzet Paşa.
267
 Turkish occupation of Baku on 15 
September 1918 gave them a big advantage over other groups. In this period, the 
president of the North Caucasian Republic, Abdulmejid Chermoev had always 
travelled with Yusuf İzzet Pasha and on 2 October they moved to Baku from 
Batum together. As a result, the second phase of the advance of the Turkish troops 
went northwards, to Derbent and Petrovsk. They captured Derbent on 6 October 
1918, and Yusuf İzzet Paşa, together with A. Chermoev arrived in the city on 10 
October and Tarkovskiy also joined them. The official independence ceremony of 
the North Caucasian Mountaineer Republic, with the participation of Nuri Paşa, the 
Commander of the Army of Islam, was held five months later and the official flag 
of the Republic was hoisted on 13 October 1918.
268
 
During this ceremony Chermoev appealed to the population of the North 
Caucasian Republic to support its government’s efforts to establish law and order 
and to lead the country to the Constituent Assembly. In this appeal, a program of 
                                                 
267
 The first Turkish military mission that was composed of 3 officers, Muzaffer, Mithat and İ. 
Berkuk arrived in the North Caucasus region from Azerbaijan and settled in Gunib in early June 
1918. See, Berkuk, “15. Fırkanın Harekâtı”, 25; and Jabagi, “Revolution,” 124-5. 
268
 Berkuk, “15. Fırkanın Harekâtı”, 73. 

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99 
 
the government’s policy that was based on strictly democratic principles was also 
introduced.
269
 
On the same day, in a meeting, which included Chermoev and other 
Ottoman officers, the situation in the region was evaluated. The existence of 
Bicherakhov and his troops in Petrovsk was recognised as a big threat to the 
survival of the North Caucasian Republic. Therefore, as a next step, it was decided 
to move towards Petrovsk. Accordingly, the 15
th
 infantry division remained under 
the command of the North Caucasian Army for a time.
270
 A letter was sent to 
Bicherakhov asking him to evacuate Petrovsk on 17 October 1918. In his reply, on 
16 October, he not only refused to abandon Petrovsk but also threatened to attack 
Derbent. In response, the Republic and its army sent a final ultimatum and ordered 
him to evacuate the territory by 20 October 1918.
271
 
 
Unfortunately at that time, the Republic was faced with the difficulty of 
creating a state with the help of Ottoman military support. Because of failures on 
other fronts, the Union and Progress Party Government, chaired by Talat Paşa, 
resigned in the beginning of October and the newly appointed Grand Vizier Ahmet 
İzzet Paşa ordered the abolishment of the Caucasian armies and the retreat of 
troops.
272
 The armistice of Mudros, moreover, signalled the end of the short time 
success. 
                                                 
269
 Jabagi has given the date as 12 October, “Revolution,” 125. In Derbent in addition to Chermoev, 
Yusuf  İzzet Pasha and Nuri Pasha made speeches. The President of the North Caucasian 
Mountaineer Republic Abdülmejid Chermoev issued a call for the help of the peoples for the 
restoration of order and supporting the national assembly. Cabaği, Kafkas-Rus Mücadelesi, 90. 
270
 Berkuk, “15. Fırkanın Harekâtı”, 74-5 and Erşan, 107. 
271
 For these letters see Erşan, 108-112 and the Appendix no.5, 169-171. 
272
 Berkuk, “15. Fırkanın Harekâtı”, 95. 

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100 
 
Despite the order of retreat and armistice, the Turkish army, accompanied 
by the troops of the North Caucasian Republic, carried out the operation and 
captured Temir Khan Shura on 31 October. Then, in order to secure the previously 
defined geographical space, the troops, as was planned, turned towards Petrovsk. 
The last note signed by Yusuf İzzet Paşa, the Commander in Chief of the North 
Caucasian Army to Bicherakhov was sent via the Commander of 15
th
 Infantry 
Regiment Süleyman İzzet Bey on 27 October 1918. He again refused to 
evacuate.
273
 
The last operation of the Turkish Army in North Caucasus began on 5 
November 1918. Bicherakhov’s primary support, the British, sent help via the 
Caspian Sea. When the British reached Petrovsk on 6 November the city was 
already under heavy artillery fire and Bicherakhov was advised to evacuate. The 
North Caucasian Army’s troops captured Petrovsk on 8 November 1918.
274
 
 
From then on, the leaders of the Republic attempted to establish authority 
over the territories of the Republic and a fully functioning state structure. On 12 
November 1918, in a meeting of representatives of the North Caucasus and 
Dagestan, President Chermoev made a speech and submitted a report concerning 
the activities of his government. This Assembly first changed the name of Petrovsk 
to Shamilkale (from Sheikh Shamil) and then the representatives, based on this 
report issued a resolution reiterating the reliance of the peoples of the North 
                                                 
273
 For the text of note see Erşan, 122. For the capture of Petrovsk A.N. Kurat has given the date 6 
November, but A.H. Hızal 7 November and, M. Erşan 8 November. For the last days and hours of 
Bicherakhov in Dagestan have been described in detail in the recollections of the British Lieutenant-
Colonel F. French, who was with the British squadron and personaly took part in negotiations with 
Bicherakhov. F. French, 1920. From Whitehall to the Caspian, London. 

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