Abazins
The Abazin, Abazinians or Abaza (Abaza and Abkhaz: Абаза; Circassian: Абазэхэр; Russian: Абазины; Turkish: Abazalar; Arabic: أباظة) are an ethnic group of the Northwest Caucasus, closely related to the Abkhaz and Circassian peoples. Now, they live mostly in Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and in Karachay-Cherkessia and Stavropol Krai in the North Caucasus region of Russia. The Tapanta (ru:Тапанта), a branch of the Abaza, lived between the Besleney and Kabardian princedoms on the upper Kuban.
Flag of the Abazin | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| ~150,000 (est.) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Turkey | 15,000–150,000 |
Russia
| 43,341 36,919 3,646 418 |
| Egypt | 5,000–15,000 |
| Ukraine | 128 |
| Languages | |
| Abaza, Russian, Arabic, Turkish | |
| Religion | |
| Predominantly Sunni Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Abkhazians, Circassians | |
Abaza people historically speak the Abaza language, a Northwest Caucasian language closely related to Abkhaz and Circassian. There are two dialects of Abaza spoken in Karachay-Cherkessia: Ashkharua and Tapanta. The culture and traditions of the Abazin are similar to those of the Circassians. On many old maps Abazin territory is marked as part of Circassia (Adygea).
According to the 2010 Russian census, there were 43,341 Abazins in Russia.