Aslan Dzharimov - 1st President and Founder of the Republic of Adygea

"One of the most important people whom I admire among the history of great Circassians of the modern world and their legacy is that of Aslan Dzharimov - 1st President and Founder of the Republic of Adygea

To understand Aslan Dzharimov's legacy is to understand his story.

Aslan was born in the village of Yegerkway, Adygea of the Koshable Region during the time of the USSR. As a young and well-educated man he worked very hard and worked strongly in the agricultural sector of the Adygean oblast. Working through the ranks and dedicating himself tirelessly, Aslan rose through the ranks of the USSR, and during the time of the uncertainty and chaos - he used his influence and ability to support the Circassian nation and its people to the fullest of his capacity.

Using international law and his wits, he broke Adygea from the cossack dominated hold of Krasnodarski Krai and created a soveirgn Republic in which in its constitution it outlined Adygea as the land and republic served for Adygha people. It is the only republic and piece of land in modern society today where the national flag is the Circassian flag, the constitution and writing is equally held in the Circassian language, and the President himself MUST by law be able to be fluent in his native language.

During his tenure, Aslan was responsible for aiding the Kosovo Circassian refugees to leave the warzone and chaos of the Yugoslav wars and gave them land by founding the village of Mafehable just on the outskirts of Maykop. He was a champion of Circassian literature and was a fervent patriot of his people by restoring relations with the long lost diaspora. From him - Circassians from Syria, Jordan, Israel, Turkey, and the United States were all invited and welcomed into the homeland and through his government including hosting even Prince Ali ibn Hussein al Hashimi of Jordan on horseback. From his work alone,he provided resources during the chaos of the 1990s to provide legal and social support to the people who chose to develop and return to their homeland and was responsible for also opening and funding the Circassian Museum of Maykop and building the Blue Mosque of Adygea. 

In the fields of Circassian activism, he helped open the 1st International Circassian Congress and brought back the sacred tradition of observing May 21 for the first time in the homeland in a long time. He proudly wore the dress of our people, actively engaged with the commoners of society, and laid the key foundations for a modern business which has propelled Adygea in 2020 to be one of the biggest key market producers in agriculture and manufacturing all across the Russian Federation and even to the Middle East and beyond. 

In the fields of regional politics and affairs, Aslan brokered truces with the many minorities and their leaders of the Caucasus. From the poets and bards of Dagestan to the presidents and activists of famous leaders including Ruslan Aushev of Ingushetia, Dzhokhar Dudayev of Chechnya, Vladislav Ardzinba of Abkhazia and even world renknowned poet and composer from Dagestan -Rasul Gamzatov. From these actions, Aslan brought a sense of unity and peace among the peoples of the Caucasus especially during a time of great uncertainty and trouble

So in conclusion, whenever I walk through the streets of Maykop and read the signs in Adighebze, see the Circassian flag tall and mighty above the white house, and pray in the beautiful blue mosque - I can't help but thank this man for creating a true homeland for me to love and return to and I profoundly wish him long life and good fortune for all that he's done for our people. 

While today in the neighboring republics of the Caucasus are still rife with ethnic, political, and economic instability in many circumstances - the Republic of Adygea today has become a model region in the world, as from the foundations of the this man's work alone, Adygea today is becoming one of the most continuously developing yet most stable republics in the homeland today economically, socially and even politically while still respecting and representing the rights, needs and cultural expressions of the Circassian people in accordance to our culture.

To you - ti t'hamada, t'ham wuepsow and may we remember the sacrifice and legacy that you have given us!"

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Batter Kadkoy