Russians in Armenia
Encyclopedia
Russians in Armenia are ethnic Russian living in the Republic of Armenia, where they make up the largest minority besides the Yazidi
Kurds. Roughly 12,500 Russians are believed to live in the country today, concentrated around Yerevan
and Gumri where Russian border guard bases are located. They are believed to make up about 0.5% of the country's population.
s, a break-off sect of the Russian Orthodox Church
, were deported to Amasya
and Sevan
, with some 5000 of their descendants still living in the nation.
After the Russo-Turkish war of 1828-1829 many Russians immigrated to Russian Armenia
, establishing businesses and churches, and settling throughout mountainous northwest
of the country. The largest number, however, came from post-Russian Revolution immigration, where Orthodox Russians fleeing persecution under the new Soviet regime came to Armenia. Outward migration of Russians increased after 1990, during the Dissolution of the Soviet Union
, when Armenian
became the official language of the nation.
Traditional Russian villages can still be found in Amassia, Ashotsk (Shirak), Sevan
and Semyonvka (Gegharkunik Province), Filoetovo, Lermontov, Pushkino
, Sverdlov
, Lernantsk, Medovka, Lerhovit, Petrovka, Tashir
and Mikaielovska (Lori Province).
Yazidi
The Yazidi are members of a Kurdish religion with ancient Indo-Iranian roots. They are primarily a Kurdish-speaking people living in the Mosul region of northern Iraq, with additional communities in Transcaucasia, Armenia, Turkey, and Syria in decline since the 1990s – their members emigrating to...
Kurds. Roughly 12,500 Russians are believed to live in the country today, concentrated around Yerevan
Yerevan
Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country...
and Gumri where Russian border guard bases are located. They are believed to make up about 0.5% of the country's population.
History
The first mass-immigration of Russians into Armenia occurred in the late 18th century when MolokanMolokan
Molokans are sectarian Christians who evolved from "Spiritual Christian" Russian peasants that refused to obey the Russian Orthodox Church, beginning in the 17th century...
s, a break-off sect of the Russian Orthodox Church
Russian Orthodox Church
The Russian Orthodox Church or, alternatively, the Moscow Patriarchate The ROC is often said to be the largest of the Eastern Orthodox churches in the world; including all the autocephalous churches under its umbrella, its adherents number over 150 million worldwide—about half of the 300 million...
, were deported to Amasya
Amasya
- History :Its location in this steep valley makes the city a mountain stronghold, easy to defend, and thus Amasya has had a long and prominent history.-Antiquity:...
and Sevan
Sevan
Sevan may refer to:* Lake Sevan, the largest lake in Armenia* Sevan , a city located near Lake Sevan) in ArmeniaIt also appears in:* Sevan Marine, a Norwegian company that constructs, owns and operates floating offshore installations...
, with some 5000 of their descendants still living in the nation.
After the Russo-Turkish war of 1828-1829 many Russians immigrated to Russian Armenia
Russian Armenia
Russian Armenia is the period of Armenia's history under Russian rule beginning from 1829, when Eastern Armenia became part of the Russian Empire to the declaration of the Democratic Republic of Armenia in 1918...
, establishing businesses and churches, and settling throughout mountainous northwest
Geography of Armenia
Armenia is a landlocked country in the South Caucasus region, between the Black and Caspian Seas, bordered on the north and east by Georgia and Azerbaijan and on the south and west by Iran and Turkey....
of the country. The largest number, however, came from post-Russian Revolution immigration, where Orthodox Russians fleeing persecution under the new Soviet regime came to Armenia. Outward migration of Russians increased after 1990, during the Dissolution of the Soviet Union
Dissolution of the Soviet Union
The dissolution of the Soviet Union was the disintegration of the federal political structures and central government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , resulting in the independence of all fifteen republics of the Soviet Union between March 11, 1990 and December 25, 1991...
, when Armenian
Armenian language
The Armenian language is an Indo-European language spoken by the Armenian people. It is the official language of the Republic of Armenia as well as in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The language is also widely spoken by Armenian communities in the Armenian diaspora...
became the official language of the nation.
Traditional Russian villages can still be found in Amassia, Ashotsk (Shirak), Sevan
Sevan (city)
Sevan is a city and a popular resort in Armenia, in the Gegharkunik Province, lies on the northern shores of Lake Sevan. The town is founded on a height of over 1900 meters above sea level, 66 kilometers north-east of the capital Yerevan, and 40 kilometers north of Gavar, the administrative...
and Semyonvka (Gegharkunik Province), Filoetovo, Lermontov, Pushkino
Pushkino, Armenia
Pushkino is a town in the Lori Province of Armenia....
, Sverdlov
Sverdlov, Armenia
Sverdlov is a town in the Lori Province of Armenia.The village hosts 6th century St. George Church which was renovated and re-consecrated in 2010....
, Lernantsk, Medovka, Lerhovit, Petrovka, Tashir
Tashir
Tashir is a town located in Lori province . Population -7856.0 Territory- 79.5 sq. km. It is a city in the district of Tashir, administrative centre of previous district of Kalinino. Distance from regional centre is 42 km...
and Mikaielovska (Lori Province).
See also
- Russian ArmeniaRussian ArmeniaRussian Armenia is the period of Armenia's history under Russian rule beginning from 1829, when Eastern Armenia became part of the Russian Empire to the declaration of the Democratic Republic of Armenia in 1918...
- Armenians in RussiaArmenians in RussiaArmenians in Russia or Russian Armenians are ethnic Armenians who live in Russia. The 2002 Russian census recorded 1,130,491 Armenians in the country, but most probably did not take into account the Armenian guest workers, most of whom do not hold Russian citizenship...
- Armenian-Russian relations
- Russians in post-Soviet states
- Russian diasporaRussian diasporaThe 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...