Russian Chilean
Encyclopedia
Russians in Chile form a minor part of the Russian diaspora
and a small group in comparison to the other ethnic groups in Chile
. The Chilean Census reported 250 to 500 Russian citizens, but no exact number of Chileans of Russian descent, yet it is thought to be at 5,000.
during the War of the Pacific
. In the period between World War I
and World War II
, political motivations for migration came to the forefront; the number of White emigres in Chile grew to about 90. In the 1950s, their numbers were further bolstered by arrivals from among the Russian expatriate community in Harbin
. The Russian Cemetery was founded in 1954 to provide a separate space for burials for the community.
As of 2004, the total size of the Russian expatriate community in Chile was estimated at about 250 individuals by the local Russian embassy. Motivations for the recent migration include opportunities for small business, the ease of acquiring mortgages to purchase housing, as well as the weather. They are employed as professors in educational centres, as well as in Chilean food export companies. Community associations they have formed include the Corporación Cultural Alejandro Lipchutz, which boasts 95 members including 70 non-Russians; they work to disseminate information about Russian culture and life.
, Chile played host to a large number of refugees not just from Russia, but Ukraine and Greece as well, which bolstered the numbers of the Orthodox community. There are more than seventy thousand Orthodox believers in Chile, and 15 Orthodox churches and chapels, mostly under the authority of the Patriarch of Antioch
.
Russian diaspora
The term Russian diaspora refers to the global community of ethnic Russians, usually more specifically those who maintain some kind of connection, even if ephemeral, to the land of their ancestors and maintain their feeling of Russian national identity within a local community.The term "Russian...
and a small group in comparison to the other ethnic groups in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
. The Chilean Census reported 250 to 500 Russian citizens, but no exact number of Chileans of Russian descent, yet it is thought to be at 5,000.
History
The first Russians came Chile in the early 19th century as part of naval expeditions circumnavigating the globe, among them captains Otto Kotsebu, Fyodor Litke, and Vasili Golovnin. However, they were just temporary visitors; the earliest Russian migrants came in 1854. The immigrants of that time belonged to different ethnic groups of the Russian Empire, particularly to minorities. Among them were seafarers and traders as well as medical professionals such as Alexei Sherbakov, who served as a surgean in the Chilean NavyChilean Navy
-Independence Wars of Chile and Peru :The Chilean Navy dates back to 1817. A year before, following the Battle of Chacabuco, General Bernardo O'Higgins prophetically declared "this victory and another hundred shall be of no significance if we do not gain control of the sea".This led to the...
during the War of the Pacific
War of the Pacific
The War of the Pacific took place in western South America from 1879 through 1883. Chile fought against Bolivia and Peru. Despite cooperation among the three nations in the war against Spain, disputes soon arose over the mineral-rich Peruvian provinces of Tarapaca, Tacna, and Arica, and the...
. In the period between World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, political motivations for migration came to the forefront; the number of White emigres in Chile grew to about 90. In the 1950s, their numbers were further bolstered by arrivals from among the Russian expatriate community in Harbin
Harbin Russians
The term Harbin Russians or Russian Harbinites refers to several generations of Russians who lived in the city of Harbin, a major junction city on the Chinese Eastern Railway , from approximately 1898 to the mid-1960s....
. The Russian Cemetery was founded in 1954 to provide a separate space for burials for the community.
As of 2004, the total size of the Russian expatriate community in Chile was estimated at about 250 individuals by the local Russian embassy. Motivations for the recent migration include opportunities for small business, the ease of acquiring mortgages to purchase housing, as well as the weather. They are employed as professors in educational centres, as well as in Chilean food export companies. Community associations they have formed include the Corporación Cultural Alejandro Lipchutz, which boasts 95 members including 70 non-Russians; they work to disseminate information about Russian culture and life.
Religion
Russians, along with Ukrainians and Greeks, were the first immigrants of the Orthodox faith to come to Chile. In the 1920s, Eleodoro Antipov founded the first Orthodox chapel, the Iglesia de la Santísima Trinidad, in Patronato; father Nicolas Kashnikoff also created the less well-known chapel of Our Lady of Kazan, which was later taken over by father Vladimir Uliantzeff. Subsequently after the end of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Chile played host to a large number of refugees not just from Russia, but Ukraine and Greece as well, which bolstered the numbers of the Orthodox community. There are more than seventy thousand Orthodox believers in Chile, and 15 Orthodox churches and chapels, mostly under the authority of the Patriarch of Antioch
Patriarch of Antioch
Patriarch of Antioch is a traditional title held by the Bishop of Antioch. As the traditional "overseer" of the first gentile Christian community, the position has been of prime importance in the church from its earliest period...
.
Notable people
This is a list of Russian expatriates in Chile and Chileans of Russian descent.- Nicolás Imschenetzky Ebensperger, founder of Ingeniería y Construcción Valmar
- Alejandro JodorowskyAlejandro JodorowskyAlejandro Jodorowsky Prullansky, known as Alejandro Jodorowsky, is a Chilean filmmaker, playwright, actor, author, comic book writer and spiritual guru...
, playwright and movie director of Russian Jewish descent - Miguel Krasnoff, Chilean army general
- Marcos Libedinsky, former president of the Supreme Court of ChileSupreme Court of ChileThe Supreme Court of Chile is the highest court in Chile. It also administrates the lower courts in the nation. It is located in the capital Santiago....
- Dinko Pavlov
- Abraham Senerman
- Alexei Sherbakov
- Andrei Tchernitchin
- Adolfo Yankélevich, TV host and journalist
- Andrés Zauschquevich
- José Berdichewsky, Army General and Pinochet's ambassador in Israel
- Leonardo Balabanoff
- Katherine Salosny, TV hostess of Russian Jewish descent
- Inessa Sorokina
- Karina Laskarin
- Gabriel Zaliasnik, politician and lawyer
- Koko StambukKoko StambukCristián Stambuk better known by his stage name Koko, is a Chilean singer-songwriter and producer, known for being the singer of the band Glup! and producing artists like Kudai, Luis Fonsi, Reik and Denise Rosenthal amog others.-Career:Koko began his career on 1996 being the lead man and...
, pop rock singer