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were not realized, and the Caucasians were removed from the international stage 
for a time. 
 
A- The Union of Caucasian Mountaineers: 
The first formal organization of the Mountaineers of the Caucasus in exile 
was set up, quite probably in late 1923 in Prague, Czechoslovakia: The Union of 
Caucasian Mountaineers (Soyuz Gortsev Kavkaza). Czechoslovakia, as a sovereign 
state that emerged after the First World War under the leadership of Thomas 
Masaryk served to accommodate former White Russians. Along with this group 
there was a small but prominent North Caucasian minority. Thus, initially in this 
Union, some Cossack groups of the North Caucasus participated alongside the 
natives such as Nikolai Andreyevich Bigaev, was even nominated the chairman of 
the Union.
334
 The most important figure among the Mountaineers was Ahmet 
Tsalikov (Tsalıkkatı). 
The first general assembly of the Union was held on 29 April 1924 in 
Prague. In this meeting Ahmet Tsalikov was elected the President and, Murat 
Hatağogu (Khatagovko) as his deputy. V. V. Vazov was elected secretary and K. 
D. Guldiev, the treasurer. The other leading figure was Elmurza Bekovich 
Cherkaskiy. In addition, the auditing board was composed of N. A. Bigaev, 
Krımgirey Kuchmazukin, and Janbolat Jerikov. 
                                                                                                                                        
333
 Caucasian Boundaries, [FO 371/6273]. 
334
 We have no concrete information related with the founders, regulations and the date of the 
foundation. But during the first general assembly, which met in April 1924, it was mentioned that 
the activities of six months were reviewed. Therefore, apparently the Union had been active from 
November 1923. See, Aydın Turan, April 1997. “Kuzey Kafkasya Mültecilerinin Çalışmalarından 
Bir Kesit: Kafkasya Dağlıları Birliği (Soyuz Gortsev Kavkaza),”  Toplumsal Tarih, 7(40): 46. 
Hereafter “Soyuz”. 

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The only source of first hand information on the Union was its periodical 
Kavkazskiy Gorets. This periodical, was the first political publication of the 
Mountaineers in exile. The first issue of Kavkazskiy Gorets was published in the 
spring of 1924, in line with the decision taken in the general assembly of the 
Union. Because of limited financial support, however, the Union’s administration 
had to cease the publication of the Kavkazskiy Gorets following the unified issue of 
2-3 in 1925. 
The objectives of the Union were indicated in the first issue of the 
Kavkazskiy Gorets. The first and foremost aim was the rehabilitation of Caucasian 
republics on the basis of federal principles. Beyond that, creating a political 
consciousness, uniting all former and fresh emigrants dispersed to the world into 
one central body, the establishment of contacts with other ‘brotherly unions and 
persons’, and with European help the development of programs to achieve these 
objectives.
335
 
Nevertheless the Union faced with a discord between the Mountaineers and 
the Cossacks, from the very outset.
336
 Alongside other Cossack members, 
especially the founding-chairman and the member of the auditing committee 
Nikolai Andreyevich Bigaev was strongly criticized by the Mountaineers. The 
main accusations were being ineffective and wasting the Union’s funds.
337
 As a 
result, the Union’s administration convened an extraordinary congress on 8 August 
                                                 
335
 “Gortsy Kavkaza v Cekhoslavakii,” 1924. Kavkazskiy Gorets, 1: 70. See Turan, “Soyuz”, 46. 
336
 Despite the conclusion of a four-point program on the Cossack problem was reached in a 
meeting that was held on 6 June 1924, both of these groups clashed with each other. A four-point 
program set out which noted that North Caucasus must be sovereign and independent state, that 
everyone would be equal in this new state, that the matter of this state’s boundaries be settled in the 
future, and that the Cossacks must live and work within the laws of this state. 

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1924 and revised the administrative set up. Hatağogu replaced Tsalikhov, with his 
consent as a chairman and Ahmet Nabi Magoma was named as his deputy. V. 
Beselov was charged with the duty of secretariat and K. D. Guldiev with the 
treasury. Only Elmurza Bekovich Cherkaskiy had kept his post as a member.
338
 
Beyond these disputes among its members, the activities of the Union, in 
the beginning focused mainly on the construction of communicative channels to 
establishing permanent contacts between the Caucasian emigrants and supplying 
them with the necessary resources for their survival in Europe. As a result, the 
Union managed to find financial support and scholarships from several European 
states, especially from Czechoslovakia. With these scholarships, fifteen students 
could study in Prague and Bruno and the Union successfully prepared the 
intellectual basis of the struggle in exile.
339
 
 
In the meantime, while the Mountaineers were endeavouring to establish 
their own organization, they also had close contacts with other Caucasian emigres. 
On every possible occasion, they issued declarations of solidarity and protested 
against the Bolshevik government. On 23 September 1924, the representatives of 
the four Caucasian republics issued a declaration on revolts in Georgia. In this 
declaration, which was signed by A. M. Topçubaşı (Azerbaijan), A. Hatisyan, V. 
Papazyan (Armenia), A Chkhenkeli, H. Ramishvili (Georgia), and A. Chermoev, I. 
                                                                                                                                        
337
 For a further accusations see Aytek Kundukh’s reply (26 March 1927) “Otkritoe Pis’mo 
Predsedatelyu Soyuza Gortsev Kavkaza v ChSR M. Gatgogu,” Vol’nye Gortsy, (Prague), 1: 19. 
338
 Kavkazskiy Gorets, 2/3, 1925. 
339
 Among these students, Ahmet Nabi Magoma, Aytek Kundukh, Barasbi Baytugan, Kosta Zangi, 
M. Abatsiyev, Elmurza Bekovich Cherkasskiy, Cemalettin Kanukati, Nevruz Sunç and Murat 
Hatağogu could be pointed out. See “Gortsy Kavkaza Studenty Uchashchiesia v Cekhoslovatskiy,” 

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