The republic has five official languages: Russian, Abaza, Cherkess (Kabardian), Karachay-Balkar, and Nogai.

[13] The majority of the republic's territory is within the Caucasus Mountains, except for a small strip at the northern edge of the Don Steppe.

[15] The Karachay-Cherkess Autonomous Oblast was founded on 12 January 1922, in the early years of the Soviet Union.

In January 1992, Russian President Boris Yeltsin was prepared to accept the division of Karachay-Cherkessia and introduced draft laws to the Supreme Soviet of Russia for the reconstitution of the Karachai Autonomous Oblast and Cherkess Autonomous Oblast within the Russian Federation.

A commission on formation of three autonomous regions – Karachai, Cherkess, and Batalpashinsk – was established in the Supreme Soviet.

Until February 2011, the President was Boris Ebzeyev, a former judge of the Constitutional Court of Russian Federation.

A court ruling later upheld the election result, prompting thousands of Derev's supporters to march in protest, many advocating the partitioning of the republic.

[citation needed] Although activity by separatists in the region pales compared to Chechnya and Dagestan, militant groups exist in Karachay-Cherkessia.

Muslim separatist groups have formed, and dozens of their members have been killed by the Russian authorities.

[18] In September 2007, the FSB killed ethnic Abazin Rustam Ionov ("Abu-Bakar"), head of the Karachaevo Jamaat (assembly), along with his wife.