Dagestan
Dagestan, officially the Republic of Dagestan, is a federal subject of Russia, located in the North Caucasus region. Its capital and largest city is Makhachkala, centrally located on the Caspian Sea coast.
With a population of 2,910,249, Dagestan is very ethnically diverse and Russia's most heterogeneous republic. Russian is the primary official language and the lingua franca among the ethnicities. Largest among the ethnicities are the Russian, Avar, Dargin, Kumyk, Lezgian, Laks, Azerbaijani, Tabasaran, Rutuls, Tats, Tsakhurs, Noghai, Aghul and Chechen. The republic’s chief cities are Makhachkala, Derbent, Kizlyar, Izberbash, Kaspiysk and Buynaksk.
Toponymy
The word Dagestan is of Turkish and Persian origin. The Turkish word means 'mountain', and the Persian suffix -stan means 'land'.Some areas of Dagestan were known as, Lezgistan, Avaria, and Tarkov at various times.
Between 1860 and 1920, Dagestan was referred to as Dagestan Oblast, corresponding to the southeastern part of the present-day republic. The current borders were created with the establishment of the Dagestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic in 1921, with the incorporation of the eastern part of Terek Oblast, which is not mountainous but includes the Terek littoral at the southern end of the Caspian Depression.
Names for Republic of Dagestan in its official languages
- Russian – Респу́блика Дагеста́н
- Avar – Дагъистаналъул Жумгьурият
- Dargin – Дагъистанес Республика
- Kumyk – Дагъыстан Жумгьурият
- Lezgian – Республика Дагъустан
- Lak – Дагъустаннал Республика
- Tabasaran – Дагъустан Республика
- Rutul – Республика Дагъустан
- Aghul – Республика Дагъустан
- Tsakhur – Республика Дагъустан
- Nogai – Дагыстан Республикасы
- Chechen – Дехастан пачхьалкъ
- Azerbaijani – Дағыстан Республикасы
Geography
- Area:
- Borders:
- *internal: Kalmykia, Chechnya, and Stavropol Krai
- *international: Azerbaijan , Georgia
- *water: Caspian Sea
- Highest point: Mount Bazardüzü/Bazardyuzyu:
- Maximum north-south distance:
- Maximum east-west distance:
Rivers
- Sulak River
- Samur River
- Terek River
Avarskoe koisu,
Andiyskoe koisy,
Shura-ozen'
Lakes
Dagestan has about of coastline on the Caspian Sea.Mountains
Most of the Republic is mountainous, with the Greater Caucasus Mountains covering the south. The highest point is the Bazardüzü/Bazardyuzyu peak at on the border with Azerbaijan. The southernmost point of Russia is located about seven kilometers southwest of the peak. Other important mountains are Diklosmta, Gora Addala Shukgelmezr and Gora Dyultydag.Natural resources
Dagestan is rich in oil, natural gas, coal, and many other minerals.Climate
The climate is hot and dry in the summer but the winters are harsh in the mountain areas.- Average January temperature:
- Average July temperature:
- Average annual precipitation: to .
Administrative divisions
History
Early 1st millennium
In the first few centuries AD, Caucasian Albania became a vassal and eventually subordinate to the Parthian Empire. With the advent of the Sassanian Empire, it became a satrapy within the vast domains of the empire. In later antiquity, it was a few times fought over by the Roman Empire and the Sassanid Persians as the former sought to contest the latter's rule over the region, without success. Over the centuries, to a relatively large extent, the peoples within the Dagestan territory converted to Christianity alongside Zoroastrianism.is renowned for the Sassanid fortress, a UNESCO world heritage site
In the 5th century, the Sassanids gained the upper hand, and by the 6th century constructed a strong citadel at Derbent, known henceforward as the Caspian Gates, while the northern part of Dagestan was overrun by the Huns, followed by the Caucasian Avars. During the Sassanian era, southern Dagestan became a bastion of Persian culture and civilization, with its center at Derbent, and a policy of "Persianisation" can be traced over many centuries.
Islamic influence
In 664, the Persians were succeeded in Derbent by the Arabs, who in the 8th century repeatedly clashed with the Khazars. Although the local population rose against the Arabs of Derbent in 905 and 913, Islam was eventually adopted in urban centers, such as Samandar and Kubachi, from where it steadily penetrated into the highlands. By the 15th century, Albanian Christianity had died away, leaving a 10th-century church at Datuna as the sole monument to its existence.Alternating Persian and Russian rule
As Mongolian authority gradually eroded, new centers of power emerged in Kaitagi and Tarki. In the early 16th century, the Persians reconsolidated their rule over the region, which would, intermittently, last till the early 19th century. In the 16th and 17th centuries, legal traditions were codified and mountainous communities obtained a considerable degree of autonomy.The Russians intensified their hold in the region for the first time in the 18th century, when Peter the Great annexed maritime Dagestan from Safavid Persia in the course of the Russo-Persian War. The territories were however returned to Persia in 1735 per the Treaty of Ganja.
Between 1730 and the early course of the 1740s, following his brother's murder in Dagestan, the new Persian ruler and military genius Nader Shah led a lengthy campaign in swaths of Dagestan in order to fully conquer the region, which was met with considerable success, although eventually he suffered several decisive defeats at the hands of various ethnic groups of Dagestan, forcing him to retreat with his army. From 1747 onwards, the Persian-ruled part of Dagestan was administered through the Derbent Khanate, with its center at Derbent. The Persian Expedition of 1796 resulted in the Russian capture of Derbent in 1796. However, the Russians were again forced to retreat from the entire Caucasus following internal governmental problems, allowing Persia to capture the territory again.
Russian rule consolidated
In 1806 the khanate voluntarily submitted to Russian authority, but it was not until the aftermath of the Russo-Persian War that Russian power over Dagestan was confirmed, and that Qajar Persia officially ceded the territory to Russia. In 1813, following Russia's victory in the war, Persia was forced to cede southern Dagestan with its principal city of Derbent, alongside other vast territories in the Caucasus to Russia, conforming with the Treaty of Gulistan. The 1828 Treaty of Turkmenchay indefinitely consolidated Russian control over Dagestan and removed Persia from the military equation.Uprisings against imperial Russia
The Russian administration, however, disappointed and embittered the highlanders. The institution of heavy taxation, coupled with the expropriation of estates and the construction of fortresses, electrified highlanders into rising under the aegis of the Muslim Imamate of Dagestan, led by Ghazi Mohammed, Gamzat-bek and Shamil. This Caucasian War raged until 1864., circa 1907 to 1915.
Dagestan and Chechnya profited from the Russo-Turkish War, to rise together against imperial Russia for the last time.
Soviet era
On 21 December 1917, Ingushetia, Chechnya, and Dagestan declared independence from Russia and formed a single state called the "United Mountain Dwellers of the North Caucasus" which was recognized by major world powers. The capital of the new state was moved to Temir-Khan-Shura. The first prime minister of the state was Tapa Chermoyev, a prominent Chechen statesman. The second prime minister was an Ingush statesman Vassan-Girey Dzhabagiev, who in 1917 also became the author of the constitution of the land, and in 1920 was reelected for a third term. After the Bolshevik Revolution, Ottoman armies occupied Azerbaijan and Dagestan and the region became part of the short-lived Mountainous Republic of the Northern Caucasus. After more than three years of fighting the White movement and local nationalists, the Bolsheviks achieved victory and the Dagestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was proclaimed on 20 January 1921.Post-Soviet era
In 1999, an Islamist group from Chechnya, led by Shamil Basayev and Ibn Al-Khattab, launched a military invasion of Dagestan, with the aim of creating an "independent Islamic State of Dagestan".The invaders were not supported by the local population and were driven back by the Russian military. As a retaliation, Russian forces subsequently reinvaded Chechnya later that year.
Politics
The parliament of Dagestan is the People's Assembly, consisting of 72 deputies elected for a four-year term. The People's Assembly is the highest executive and legislative body of the republic.The Constitution of Dagestan was adopted on 10 July 2003. According to it, the highest executive authority lies with the State Council, comprising representatives of fourteen ethnicities. The members of the State Council are appointed by the Constitutional Assembly of Dagestan for a term of four years. The State Council appoints the members of the Government.
The ethnicities represented in the State Council are Avars, Dargins, Kumyks, Lezgins, Laks, Azerbaijanis, Tabasarans, Russians, Chechens, Nogais, Aguls, Rutuls, Tsakhurs, and Tats.
Formerly, the Chairman of the State Council was the highest executive post in the republic, held by Magomedali Magomedovich Magomedov until 2006. On 20 February 2006, the People's Assembly passed a resolution terminating this post and disbanding the State Council. Russian president, Vladimir Putin offered the People's Assembly the candidature of Mukhu Aliyev for the newly established post of the president of the Republic of Dagestan. The nomination was accepted by the People's Assembly, and Mukhu Aliyev became the first president of the republic. On 20 February 2010 Aliyev was replaced by Magomedsalam Magomedov. Then the head of the republic becomes Ramazan Abdulatipov. Since 3 October 2017, the head of the Republic is appointed Vladimir Vasilyev.
Demographics
Because its mountainous terrain impedes travel and communication, Dagestan is unusually ethnically diverse, and still largely tribal. It is Russia's most heterogeneous republic. Dagestan's population is rapidly growing.Population:
Settlements
Vital statistics
| Average population | Live births | Deaths | Natural change | Crude birth rate | Crude death rate | Natural change | Fertility rates | |
| 1970 | 1,438 | 41,381 | 9,543 | 31,838 | 28.8 | 6.6 | 22.1 | - |
| 1975 | 1,544 | 42,098 | 10,292 | 31,806 | 27.3 | 6.7 | 20.6 | - |
| 1980 | 1,655 | 44,088 | 11,188 | 32,900 | 26.6 | 6.8 | 19.9 | - |
| 1985 | 1,744 | 50,053 | 12,010 | 38,043 | 28.7 | 6.9 | 21.8 | - |
| 1990 | 1,848 | 48,209 | 11,482 | 36,727 | 26.1 | 6.2 | 19.9 | 3.07 |
| 1991 | 1,906 | 47,461 | 12,062 | 35,399 | 24.9 | 6.3 | 18.6 | 2.94 |
| 1992 | 1,964 | 44,986 | 12,984 | 32,002 | 22.9 | 6.6 | 16.3 | 2.70 |
| 1993 | 2,012 | 41,863 | 14,777 | 27,086 | 20.8 | 7.3 | 13.5 | 2.46 |
| 1994 | 2,117 | 44,472 | 15,253 | 29,219 | 21.0 | 7.2 | 13.8 | 2.45 |
| 1995 | 2,209 | 45,680 | 15,700 | 29,980 | 20.7 | 7.1 | 13.6 | 2.41 |
| 1996 | 2,251 | 42,282 | 15,565 | 26,717 | 18.8 | 6.9 | 11.9 | 2.19 |
| 1997 | 2,308 | 41,225 | 15,662 | 25,563 | 17.9 | 6.8 | 11.1 | 2.10 |
| 1998 | 2,363 | 41,164 | 15,793 | 25,371 | 17.4 | 6.7 | 10.7 | 2.05 |
| 1999 | 2,417 | 38,281 | 16,020 | 22,261 | 15.8 | 6.6 | 9.2 | 1.87 |
| 2000 | 2,464 | 38,229 | 16,108 | 22,121 | 15.5 | 6.5 | 9.0 | 1.82 |
| 2001 | 2,511 | 38,480 | 15,293 | 23,187 | 15.3 | 6.1 | 9.2 | 1.79 |
| 2002 | 2,563 | 41,204 | 15,887 | 25,317 | 16.1 | 6.2 | 9.9 | 1.85 |
| 2003 | 2,609 | 41,490 | 15,929 | 25,561 | 15.9 | 6.1 | 9.8 | 1.81 |
| 2004 | 2,647 | 41,573 | 15,724 | 25,849 | 15.7 | 5.9 | 9.8 | 1.76 |
| 2005 | 2,684 | 40,814 | 15,585 | 25,229 | 15.2 | 5.8 | 9.4 | 1.69 |
| 2006 | 2,721 | 40,646 | 15,939 | 24,707 | 14.9 | 5.9 | 9.1 | 1.64 |
| 2007 | 2,761 | 45,470 | 15,357 | 30,113 | 16.5 | 5.6 | 10.9 | 1.81 |
| 2008 | 2,804 | 49,465 | 15,794 | 33,671 | 17.6 | 5.6 | 12.0 | 1.94 |
| 2009 | 2,850 | 50,416 | 16,737 | 33,679 | 17.7 | 5.9 | 11.8 | 1.92 |
| 2010 | 2,896 | 52,057 | 17,013 | 35,044 | 18.0 | 5.9 | 12.1 | 1.92 |
| 2011 | 2,914 | 54,427 | 16,917 | 37,510 | 18.1 | 5.8 | 12.3 | 1.98 |
| 2012 | 2,931 | 56,186 | 16,642 | 39,492 | 19.1 | 5.7 | 13.4 | 2.03 |
| 2013 | 2,955 | 55,641 | 16,258 | 39,383 | 18.8 | 5.5 | 13.3 | 2.02 |
| 2014 | 2,982 | 56,888 | 16,491 | 40,397 | 19.1 | 5.5 | 13.6 | 2.08 |
| 2015 | 3,003 | 54,724 | 16,132 | 38,592 | 18.2 | 5.4 | 12.8 | 2.02 |
| 2016 | 3,029 | 52,924 | 15,642 | 37,282 | 17.4 | 5.2 | 12.2 | 1.98 |
| 2017 | 3,041 | 50,322 | 15,562 | 32,567 | 16.4 | 5.1 | 11.3 | 1.91 |
| 2018 | 3,077 | 47,960 | 14,842 | 33,118 | 15.6 | 4.8 | 10.8 | 1.86 |
| 2019 | 3,110 | 45,516 | 14,482 | 31,034 | 14.7 | 4.7 | 10.0 | 1.78 |
Ethnic groups
The people of Dagestan include a large variety of ethnicities. According to the 2010 Census, Northeast Caucasians make up almost 75% of the population of Dagestan. Turkic peoples, Kumyks, Azerbaijanis, and Nogais make up 21%, and Russians 3.6%. Other ethnicities each account for less than 0.4% of the total population.Such groups as the Botlikh, the Andi, the Akhvakhs, the Tsez and about ten other groups were reclassified as Avars between the 1926 and 1939 censuses.
Languages
More than 30 local languages are commonly spoken, most belonging to the Nakh-Daghestanian language family. Russian became the principal lingua franca in Dagestan during the 20th century; Over 20 of Russia's 131 endangered languages as identified by UNESCO can be found in Dagestan. Most of these endangered languages have speakers in the mountainous region on the Dagestan-Georgia border.Prior to Soviet rule, the literary lingua-franca status to some extent belonged to Classical Arabic. The northern Avar dialect of Khunzakh has also served as a lingua franca in mountainous Dagestan where Avar-related peoples lived. And throughout centuries the Kumyk language had been the lingua-franca for the bigger part of the Northern Caucasus, from Dagestan to Kabarda, until the 1930s. Kumyk also had been an official language for communication of Russian Imperial administration with the local peoples.
The first Russian grammar written about a language from present-day Dagestan was for Kumyk. Author Timofey Makarov wrote:
Religion
According to a 2012 survey which interviewed 56,900 people, 83% of the population of Dagestan adheres to Islam, 2.4% to the Russian Orthodox Church, 2% to Caucasian folk religion and other native faiths, 1% are non-denominational Christians. In addition, 9% of the population declares to be "spiritual but not religious", 2% is atheist and 0.6% follows other religions or did not answer the question.Islam
Dagestanis are largely Sunni Muslims, of the Shafii rites, that has been in place for centuries. On the Caspian coast, particularly in and around the port city of Derbent, the population is Shia. There is also a Salafi population, which is often a target of official repression.
The appearance of Sufi mysticism in Dagestan dates back to the 14th century. The two Sufi tariqas that spread in the North Caucasus were the Naqshbandiya and the Qadiriya. The mystic tariqas preached tolerance and coexistence between the diverse people in the region. The Communist total intolerance for any religion after the Communist Revolution of 1917 also suppressed the Sufi movements. Shaykh Said Afandi al-Chirkawi was a prominent scholar, spiritual leader and murshid of Naqshbandi and Shadhili tariqahs in Dagestan until his death.
Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union there has been an Islamic revival in the region, and by 1996 Dagestan had 1,670 registered mosques, 9 Islamic universities, 25 madrassas, 670 maktab, and it's estimated that "nearly one in five Dagestanis was involved in Islamic education", while of the 20 000 or so Russian pilgrims for Hajj more than half were from Dagestan.
Judaism
A relatively large number of native Tati-speaking Jews – the "Mountain Jews" – were also present in this same coastal areas. However, since 1991 and the collapse of the Soviet Union, they have migrated to Israel and the United States. These were an extension of much larger Azerbaijani Jewish community across the border in the Azerbaijani districts of Quba and Shamakhi.
Christianity
The number of Christians among the non-Slavic indigenous population is very low, with estimates between 2,000 and 2,500. Most of these are Pentecostal Christians from the Lak ethnicity. The largest congregation is Osanna Evangelical Christian Church in Makhachkala, with more than 1,000 members.
Economy
The major industries in Dagestan include oil production, engineering, chemicals, machine building, textile manufacturing, food processing, and the timber. Oil deposits are located in the narrow coastal region. The Dagestani oil is of high quality and is delivered to other regions. Dagestan's natural gas production goes mostly to satisfy local needs. Agriculture is varied and includes grain-farming, viticulture and wine-making, sheep-farming, and dairying. The engineering and metalworking industries own 20% of the republic's industrial production assets and employ 25% of all industrial workers. Dagestan's hydroelectric power industry is developing rapidly. There are five power plants on the Sulak River providing hydroelectric power. It has been estimated that Dagestan's total potential hydroelectric power resources are 4.4 billion kW. Dagestan has a well-developed transportation system. Railways connect the capital Makhachkala to Moscow, Astrakhan, and the Azerbaijani capital, Baku. The Moscow-Baku highway also passes through Dagestan, and there are air links with major cities.Conditions for economic development are favorable in Dagestan, but – as of 2006 – the republic's low starting level for a successful transition to market relations, in addition to rampant corruption, has made the region highly dependent on its underground economy and the subsidies coming from the central Russian government. Corruption in Dagestan is more severe than in other regions of the former Soviet Union and is coupled with a flourishing black market and clan-based economic system.
In 2011 Rostelecom started implementation of WDM-based equipment on the backbone network for data transmission in the Republic of Dagestan. Due to WDM introduction, the fiber-optic communication lines bandwidth increased to 2.5 Gbit/s. Rostelecom invested about 48 million rubles in the project.