Abdul "Tapa" Tchermoeff

Early life
Born in Grozny, Chechnya, in 1882, Tapa was the eldest son of the well-known General Ortsou Tchermoeff. He was educated at the Vladikavkaz secondary schooland at the Nicolayevsky Cavalry College in St. Petersburg. He graduated in 1901 and joined an elite military unit, His Majesty Tsar Nicholas II's Own Life Guard Convoy.

Tapa Tchermoeff married Princess Khavarsultan Khanim Ibrahimbeyova of Persia in 1906. Although still a young man he was obliged to leave the army in 1908 when his father died. During this time he threw himself into economic and industrial activities. His family owned important parcels of oil-bearing land in the Grozny area. Tapa automatically became one of the most active and energetic pioneers of the Grozny oil industry.

World War I interrupted Tapa's economic activity. He joined the famous native Savage Division of the Imperial Russian Army with the rank of Captain. In the war he proved himself a brilliant military leader and a fearless soldier. After the October Revolution Tapa returned to his native land intent to stem the rise of Bolshevism in Chechnya.

The Mountainous Republic of the Northern Caucasus
Tapa believed the unifying of all Caucasian highlanders to be the only way of saving the Northern Caucasus from the Bolsheviks. On his initiative and thanks to his unrelenting energy a convention of Caucasian highlanders took place in March 1917. This meeting resolved to form an independent highland state. On 11 May 1918 The Mountainous Republic of the Northern Caucasus was officially established. Tapa was first the prime minister and then the minister for foreign affairs.

After The Russian Civil War The Mountainous Republic of the Northern Causcaus was an independent state. But shortly after the Peace with honor. The Germans and The Don Kuban Union Destoryed The Republic.