PUBLIC-POLITICAL ACTIVITY OF THE MOUNTAIN INTELLECTUALS IN THE NORTH CAUCASUS IN THE CONDITIONS OF THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION OF 1917
This article analyzes ethnopolitical processes which were underway in the North Caucasus during the revolution of 1917. The February revolution had a significant impact on the course and nature of the socio-historical development of the region. The issues of transformation of the national-state and administrative-territorial status of the mountain peoples within the framework of the new Russian state are becoming topical. The mountain intellectuals tried to implement the liberal democratic potential of the Russian revolution in the region. It was aimed at strengthening the foundations of Russian statehood and the search for forms of autonomy of the mountain nations as the part of the future Russian Republic. The activity of the Union of United Mountaineers of the North Caucasus and Dagestan was aimed at achieving the stated goal. Their ideological attitudes received political registration at the irst congress of the Mountain peoples in May 1917, at which the basic documents were adopted: the Political Program and the Constitution, as well as resolutions on topical issues on the agenda. At this congress, the entry of the nations of the North Caucasus into the Russian state was legitimized. The mountain intelligency helped to strengthen the power of the Provisional Government. Its representatives were part of the Russian government and contributed to the strengthening of state structures in the region. The failure of the liberal-democratic project led to a change of the position of the mountain intellectuals on the issue of state unity with the Russian state and the loss of its political perspectives in the region.