DagBlog - Voice of Dagestan

International free-style wrestling tournament in Dagestan

2008-09-21T17:24:00.001+03:00

At the international free-style wrestling tournament in memory of Honored Master of Sports of Dagestan, holder of the World Cup, Shamil Umahanova come strongest champions of world. This Vice President of Sports Federation struggle of Abshin Abshinov.

According to him Hasavyurtovsky level of the tournament is among the three major tournaments held under the aegis of FILA, and has international status. Therefore, at this tournament have expressed the desire to come almost all the strongest fighters from 25 countries near and far abroad, as well as from North Caucasus republics and some regions of Russia.

By tournaments are allowed athletes 1989 birth and over weight category - 55, 60, 66, 74, 84, 96 and 120 kg. Permission is granted to sag 2 kg. The composition of the team - seven athletes, one coach and one judge.

«Overall direction the preparation and holding of an international tournament organizing committee is implemented, the Ministry of Physical Culture and Sports, RD, social and charitable foundation for free-style wrestling name S. Umahanova and socially - the international charity fund named Imam Shamil. A direct a tournament rests with the judicial panel authorized by sports federations to combat Russia and Dagestan », said the agency interlocutor.

Competitions will be held from 17 to 20 October in the new Palais des Sports, construction of which is nearly complete. The formal opening of the tournament will be held October 18 at 18:00.

The winners and prize competitions will be awarded medals, diplomas and degrees of the cash prizes. «Just set up 4 commemorative prize:« For the best technique »,« a better judge of the tournament »,« the youngest finalist of the tournament »and« better wrestler, an alien », stressed A. Abshinov.

One more airline company conquers Dagestan sky

2008-09-20T17:08:00.000+03:00

On the day before Dagestan airport has a YAK-42 airplane of company "Interavia". One hundred residents of Makhachkala were the first passengers of the new evening flight Moscow - Makhachkala. With the exception of two scheduled flights, a third was added.

According to Dagestan Airlines management and the company "Interavia" This contract is a mutually beneficial cooperation. The representatives of the "Interavia" and Dagestan Airlines receive a portion of the income, and the passengers - the comfortable flight.

The company "Interavia" is only four years old. The attention of the company, of course, is for the safety of flights. And the price of the ticket is still relatively small - five and a half one thousand rubles. Such a cost is also convenient for those who prefer ground transportation, as there are a lot of people who want to 20.00 flight to Moscow.

One more airline company conquers Dagestan sky

2008-09-20T17:06:00.001+03:00

Italian companies got interested in the engine of Dagestani inventor

2008-09-20T17:03:00.002+03:00

A Dagestani inventor Gadzhi Ibadulaev has participated in Moscow Motor Show to show his invention to general public. His invention is an engine, the G. Ibadulaev had for many years.

"My petrol engine with 25 pressure ratio and 38 amperes compression has great impression on the participants and visitors to the showrooms, everyone was in raptures. A pressure gauge has been fixed at 32 atmospheres scale "- Gadzhi Ibadulaev said.

Several major Italian companies, such as Roberto Bartalezi have interest in the invention of our fellow countryman. Representatives of the Italian company have promised to report on the invention of Dagestan craftsmen.

The conference “Actual problems of contraction to extremism” to be soon held in Dagestan

2008-09-20T17:00:00.001+03:00

Dagestan state university has won a competition of the Ministry for regional development of the Russian Federation on holding the All-Russia scientifically-practical conference “Actual problems of counteraction to national and political extremism”, the head of DSU press centre Gamid Magomedov has informed the news agency Dagestan

In November 2008 DSU officials along with the administration of president and government RD plans to conduct a conference to discuss measures directed on counteraction to national and political extremism, preservation of good interethnic relations and public consent.

According to Magomedov, representatives of state bodies, local self-management officials, science officers and teachers of the leading high schools of the Russian Federation are expected to take part in the work of the conference.

Ten rebels killed in Dagestan

2008-09-20T16:52:00.002+03:00

Federal Security Service officers killed 10 militants in Dagestan, regional authorities said on Wednesday.

The commandos ambushed a Gazel minivan carrying insurgents, along with weapons and explosives on a road near the Russian border with Azerbaijan, the Dagestani branch of the FSB in a statement.

The FSB commandos fired several rocket-propelled grenades in the minibus and the rebels sprayed with gunfire from automatic firearms, said the statement.

Two FSB officers were wounded in the fighting, one of whom died later in hospital.

Wednesday bite of the operation came after two recent campaigns by the security services on the same network Islamist rebel, who was active in the south of Dagestan, local security officials said.

Three policemen were killed in a clash on September 7, like that five militants, including Ilgar Mollachiyev, whom the rebels Chechen leadership has appointed last fall as commander of the Dagestani insurgents. The next day, three policemen were killed in a skirmish with members of the group Mollachiyev law enforcement who tried to encircle near the village of Sirtych.

Dozens of officials responsible for enforcing the law are killed each year in Dagestan, where ethnic rivalries and Islamist separatism - exacerbated by police brutality and official corruption - prompt young men to join violent anti-government groups.

Dagestan president Mukhu Aliyev has repeatedly demanded - in vain - that the police desist from brutal attacks on local residents. A campaign is under way in the Republic to expel Dagestani Interior Minister Adilgirei Magomedtagirov, the answers to the federal government.

Sergei Markedonov, a Caucasus expert at the Institute of Political and Military Analysis, said that due to widespread corruption and nepotism, rooted in Dagestan and Ingushetia, the deadly violence has become the only form of political protest from disgruntled with the status quo.

"Moreover, recent events in Dagestan demonstrate that the Kremlin's claims to have crushed the insurgency networks in the Caucasus are not true," he said.

RIA DAGESTAN

Best of Dagestan Music - 2

2008-05-19T04:17:00.002+03:00

Best of Dagestan Series. Songs in Dagestani languages.

To download click here
Password: www.dolalay.com

Documentation film about Imam Shamil

2008-05-19T04:12:00.002+03:00

Documentation film made by Turks about Imam Shamil. Its instruct about his life and his lands.

Two policeman killed in Dagestan

2008-05-16T03:30:00.000+03:00

Two police officers were killed while patrolling a small village in central Dagestan on Thursday, Russian news agencies reported.

The Interfax news agency quoted Dagestan's interior ministry as saying a vehicle with three officers was shot at during a routine patrol of the village Gubden. Two were killed and one was wounded.

In October last year attackers burned down the house of Gubden's police chief about 10 days after unknown gunmen opened fire on Russian riot police in the village, wounding two, Interfax reported at the time.

In September 2007 the Islamic judge of a local mosque in Gubden was killed before morning prayers, with an armed underground Dagestani Islamist group claiming responsibility, according to the Chechnya Weekly, a U.S. watchdog

two rebel killed in Ingushetia Region

2008-05-14T14:13:00.002+03:00

Russian police killed two rebel during an operation in the southern region of Ingushetia, Russian news agencies reported on Saturday.

Another was injured and detained when police stormed a house in a village in the region, which borders the volatile Russian province of Chechnya.

The Interfax news agency quoted Ingushetia's interior ministry as saying that the dead men, both Ingush, belonged to armed groups suspected of recent attacks on police and other acts of violence.

Police found four grenade-launchers, two machine-guns, a pistol and rebel literature in the house, Itar-Tass quoted the ministry as saying.

Invasion of Dagestan

2008-04-16T01:42:00.002+03:00

Penetration into Dagestan of ideas of radical Islamic current — a vahhabism — has begun in the end of 1980th years. [1 one of Dagestan vahabitians was Bagauddin Kebegov, established(installed) during the First Chechen war close contacts to Arabian mercenary Khattabom and the Chechen field commanders. [1] after Dzhokhara Dudaev's destruction and the termination(ending) of the First Chechen war supporters of a vahhabism began to win promptly positions in the Chechen Republic that was promoted by a policy(politics) of president ЧРИ Zelimkhana Yandarbiev. [1]

In 1997-1998 in the Chechen Republic has received a political asylum some tens (on other data — some hundreds) the Dagestan Islamites. The part from them was at war on the party(side) of separatists during the First Chechen war, others participated in Dagestan салафитском a underground, for what in the Dagestan were in search. From them Багауддин Кебедов, at material support of the Chechen field commanders, has created and has armed independent fighting formations. It(he) has declared(announced) intention to transform Dagestan in the independent Islamic state and has begun preparation of the armed struggle against the "proRussian" management(manual) of republic. [1] it has generated a certain similarity of the government in exile, having named its(his) Islamic Dagestan. At participation Кебедова and its(his) supporters in April, 1998 in Terrible constituent congress of the organization « the Congress of people of Ichkeria and Dagestan » (КНИД) which head became Shamil Basayev took place. [1] Idea of creation of this organization was conformable to idea of many Chechen field commanders — « to clearing of Muslim Caucasus of the Russian imperial yoke ». [1] Under aegis КНИД the armed formations, including « the Islamic international peace-making brigade » about which ordered Хаттаб have been created. [1] КНИД repeatedly acted with threats to address of « the proRussian management(manual) » Dagestan, accusing it(him) in prosecution of local moslems, declaring about « absence of legitimate authority » in republic and т. Item [1]

Per 1999 insurgents Кебедова have started to get fine groups into Dagestan and to create in remote mountain settlements military bases and warehouses of the weapon. In June-August, 1999 there were the first стокновения between проникшими to Dagestan insurgents and the Dagestan militia as a result of which was lost and some militiamen have been wounded. Authorities of Dagestan have called federal armies to lead large-scale military operation against Islamites.

Кебедов persuaded the Chechen field commanders to help(assist) the Dagestan moslems in « clearing of the sacred Dagestan ground of occupation incorrect ». Thus it(he) approved(confirmed), referring to the relatives and supporters in Dagestan, that in case of input of groups of Islamites to Dagestan the overwhelming majority of the population of Dagestan will support(maintain) them and will lift general antiRussian revolt. КНИД, headed by Shamilem Basayev and Хаттабом, has agreed to render military assistance Кебедову, and also has called for it(this) other field commanders (all has gathered about 40 commanders of different levels, including Арби Бараева, Рамзана Ахмадова, Абдул-Малика Межидова and others).

Decision КНИД to render military support to groups Kebedova (which by then already incorporated a little сот well armed fighters) was influenced with the conflict taken place in 1998-1999 in a management(manual) of the Chechen Republic between supporters of a rate of Aslan Maskhadov ("moderated"("moderate")) and "radicals" (oppositional Шурой led by Shamilem Basayev), and also unwillingness to deny assistance to coreligionists, many of which were at war on the party(side) of the Chechen separatists in the First Chechen war.

Gang overlord killed in Dagestan

2008-04-16T00:24:00.000+03:00

An overlord of armed gangs, Ismail Yangizbiev, was killed in the Khasavyurt district of Dagestan in a special operation, Itar-Tass learnt from acting press service chief of the Dagestan Interior Ministry Mark Tolchinsky. “Yangizbiev had been on the Federal Wanted List for several years for committing grave crimes, including assassinations of police officers and terror acts.”

According to the republican Interior Ministry, a special operation on destruction of gunmen started last night near the villages of Pokrovskoye and Kondauraul. According to available information, the gang ringleader and supposedly two of his underlings were driving a car on the road between the two villages.

When the car was stopped for checking documents, three armed people jumped out of the car, opening fire on police officers. Then, they tried to escape to a nearby forest. Yangizbiev was killed in a firing engagement, while two other gunmen managed to flee.

A combing operation is now in progress near the village of Kondauraul in the forest. The operation involves interior troops, apart from Dagestan police officers. According to preliminary data, there are no losses among policemen and interior troops.

Russia Can't Agree on Missiles

2008-04-07T00:52:00.000+03:00

SOCHI, Russia (AP) — President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin failed to overcome sharp differences over a U.S. missile defense system, closing their seven-year relationship Sunday still far apart on an issue that has separated them from the beginning.

"Our fundamental attitude toward the American plan has not changed," Putin said at a news conference with Bush at his vacation house at this Black Sea resort. "We got a lot of way to go," Bush said. Despite the impasse, the two leaders agreed that Moscow and Washington would work together closely in the future on missile defense and other difficult issues.

Bush also conferred with Putin's hand-picked successor, Dmitry Medvedev, but did not claim gaining any insight into his soul, as he had with Putin upon their first encounter. He pronounced Putin's protege "a straightforward fellow" and said he was eager to work with him.

Putin was asked whether he — or Medvedev, the president-elect — would be in charge of Russia's foreign policy after May 7, when Putin steps down as president and is expected to be named prime minister.

Putin said Medvedev would be in charge, and would represent Russia at the Group of Eight meeting of industrial democracies in July in Tokyo. "Mr. Medvedev has been one of the co-authors of Russia's foreign policy," Putin said. "He's completely on top of things."

National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley, when asked later whether he thought Putin actually was going to cede authority on Russian foreign policy to Medvedev, said, "My guess is that these two men who have worked very closely together for now almost two decades will have a very collaborative relationship. That seems to be a good thing, not a bad thing."

Hadley, who spoke with reporters aboard Air Force One on the way home to Washington, also said he didn't see any prospect of a breakthrough on missile defense before Bush leaves office next January. "They can leave that to their prospective successors," he said. Later on the trip back, Hadley said, "We've got as much of an agreement as you can expect to get from these two leaders at this point in time."

At their 28th and presumably final meeting as heads of state, Bush and Putin sought to emphasize their good personal relations, praising each other extensively. But they also both acknowledged remaining strong disagreements, principally missile defense and NATO's eastward expansion.

Russia remains adamantly opposed to the expansion of the alliance into its backyard, an enlargement that Bush has actively championed over Putin's vocal objections.

The Sochi meeting came just days after NATO leaders agreed at a summit in Romania to invite Albania and Croatia to join the alliance. However, the alliance rebuffed U.S. attempts to begin the process of inviting Ukraine and Georgia, both former Soviet republics, to join, although their eventual admission seems likely.

Putin called the U.S. missile plan — which envisions basing tracking radar sites in the Czech Republic and interceptors in Poland — the hardest of US-Russian differences to reconcile. "This is not about language. This is not about diplomatic phrasing or wording. This is about the substance of the issue," he said.

Bush reiterated his insistence that the plan — designed to intercept and destroy approaching ballistic missiles at high altitudes — should not be viewed as a threat to Russia. In a clear reference to Iran, he said the system would help protect Europe from "regimes that could try to hold us hostage."

"I view this as defensive, not offense," Bush said. "And, obviously, we've got a lot of work to convince the experts this defense system is not aimed at Russia."

He blamed opposition to the plan to lingering Cold War fears.

The two leaders did issue a joint statement on missile defense as part of a "strategic framework" to guide future relations between Washington and Moscow.

The statement outlined timeworn U.S. and Russian positions but also held out the prospect for future cooperation, perhaps on a joint system. That, said Putin, represents "certain progress."

"If we manage to achieve this kind of level of cooperation on a global missile defense system, this will be the best kind of result for all our preceding efforts," he said.

Bush bristled at a journalist's question that suggested the two leaders were merely "kicking the can down the road" on the vexing issue.

"You can cynically say that it is kicking the can down the road. I don't appreciate that, because this is an important part of my belief that it is necessary to protect ourselves," Bush said.

The two sides also agreed to "develop a legally binding arrangement following expiration" in December 2009 of the strategic arms limitation treaty (START). Their joint declaration noted the "substantial reductions already carried out" under that pact, which they said was an important step in reducing the number of deployed nuclear warheads.

Bush was reminded of his June 2001 comment after his first meeting with the Russian leaders that he had looked into Putin's eyes, "was able to get a sense of his soul" and found him to be trustworthy. The remark startled even some of Bush's own aides at the time.

"I did find him to be trustworthy, and he was trustworthy," Bush said Sunday. "He looks you in the eye and tells you what's on his mind. He's been very truthful. And to me, that's the only way you can find common ground."

And did he feel the same way in his first meeting on Sunday with the next Russian president?

"I just met the man for 20 minutes," Bush said. Still, Bush said Medvedev "seemed like a very straightforward fellow. My first impressions are very favorable."

"You can write down: I was impressed and looking forward to working with him," he told reporters.

Bush met separately with Medvedev before his news conference with Putin and received a pledge from the incoming president to work to strengthen relations between the two countries.

Over the last eight years, Bush and Putin "did a lot to advance U.S.-Russian relations" and that relationship was "a key factor in international security," Medvedev said. "I would like to do my part to keep up that work," he added.

Bush told Medvedev, "I'm looking forward to getting to know you so we'll be able to work through common problems and find common opportunities."

A bond of sorts formed between Bush and Putin when Putin stood with the United States after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. But the era of cooperation quickly began to unravel as Russia opposed the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and as the Russian leader consolidated his power and took steps to roll back democratic advances.

On Sunday, Putin greeted Bush at the door of the guesthouse and escorted him downstairs to a wood-paneled room with tall windows facing the sea. They sat alongside each other in chairs before a fireplace with unlit logs. A crush of cameramen, photographers and reporters crowded the room.

The Russian president said they had started discussing security issues and other matters over dinner on Saturday and were approaching the talks "in a common working manner." Putin put in another plug for the Winter Olympic games that Sochi will host in 2014.

Their introductory remarks were mostly light-hearted. Bush joked about asked to join in a traditional folk dance during the dinner entertainment the previous evening. "I'm only happy that my press corps didn't see me try to dance the dance I was asked to do."

"We have been able to see you're a brilliant dancer," Putin replied good naturedly.

Two oil depot on fire in Dagestan

2008-04-07T00:50:00.000+03:00

MAKHACHKALA, Russia, March 27 (Reuters) - Fire broke out at an oil depot in Russia's Caspian Sea region of Dagestan on Thursday, leaving a large part of its capital covered by thick smoke.

A female worker from the oil depot was taken to hospital with burns covering her entire body, Russian media said.

Residents reported hearing a powerful explosion before the fire engulfed parts of the oil depot near the Caspian Sea, but there was no information on the cause of the blast.

A freelance journalist working for Reuters saw thick plumes of black smoke covering almost half of Makhachkala.

Dagestan's Emergencies Minister Murtazali Gadzhiyev told Russia's Vesti-24 channel that firefighters were preparing to tackle the fire with foam to try to douse flames on a reservoir of some 10,000 tonnes of oil.

"We managed to open the taps ... and now this oil is being pumped out," Gadzhiyev said. "We are trying to keep the fire away from other reservoirs."

Dagestan and next-door Ingushetia, part of the volatile, multi-ethnic North Caucasus region, have become more unstable than neighbouring Chechnya, where Moscow has fought two wars against pro-independence rebels since 1994.

Skirmishes with federal troops, mine explosions and kidnappings have become commonplace in impoverished Dagestan, with the authorities blaming instability on Islamic rebels, including those flushed out of Chechnya by pro-Moscow troops. (Reporting by Dmitry Solovyov; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)

Two Journalists Killed

2008-03-22T15:31:00.000+02:00

Two journalists from the restive Caucasus region of Dagestan were killed in separate incidents, Russian news agencies reported. Gadzhi Abashilov, chairman of the Dagestan state broadcasting company and a former television journalist, was shot dead when unidentified gunmen fired on his car in the regional capital, Makhachkala, Tass reported. Mr. Abashilov’s killing came hours after the body of another television journalist, originally from Dagestan, was found in Moscow after he was strangled in his apartment. The Associated Press reported that the victim was Ilyas Shurapayev, of Channel One. More than a dozen journalists have died in Russian contract-style killings since 2000.

The Tadjik sniper has appeared Dagestan

2008-03-18T18:53:00.000+02:00

The embassy of Republic Tajikistan in Moscow has unexpectedly confirmed, that Putin and its(his) successor Medvedev the sniper really was going to destroy. The embassy thus has specified earlier the published information, having directed on March, 17th a note of protest in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia in connection with the publication in a number of the Russian mass-media of materials that attempt at Putin and Medvedev was prepared ostensibly by the citizen of Tajikistan.

Let's remind, that on March, 15th the Moscow newspaper close to FSB « Your day » has informed, that in day of "elections" of Medvedev of FSB has seized in one of houses near to the Kremlin 24-years the man with a sniper rifle. Thus, « attempt » has been prevented.

Business development in Dagestan creates brighter future for rural families

2008-03-16T15:29:00.000+02:00

Hard work over the last year and a half will ensure a higher quality of life and more stable future for thirty-eight families in Khasavyurt district, Dagestan, who have successfully participated in a World Vision business development project 'Vpered' ('Ahead') funded by USAID.

Some 73% of the population lives below the poverty line in this largely rural region where agriculture constitutes one fourth of its GDP, like many rural regions in Russia. Unemployment is at 30%, but higher in predominantly rural areas where Soviet collective farms practically ceased to exist with private farming failing to develop because of lack of access to funding and loans.

That's why small grants distributed through programmes like 'Vpered' that help people start their own business are so important in this region. Several small businesses were started with the grants distributed through the 'Vpered' project, many of which focused on agriculture or supported people living in villages whose only source of income are their small plots of land.

Uma Adzhaeva is a single mother bringing up a small daughter and trying to support her two sisters, who are also raising their children alone, and is one of the thirty-eight start up entrepreneurs involved in the Vpered Project.

'I could not believe at first that my business plan could ever be funded,' says Uma. 'There is so much corruption everywhere; people sometimes even have to pay to get a job in a hospital or a school. So the idea of an international organisation supporting you for free to start your own business seemed like a fairy tale - a dream come true.'

Uma received a grant that helped her buy equipment for the shop. Her brother helped her put up the shelves, and she used some of her own funds to buy the first stock of goods. Now Uma has a shop, which means steady income for her and her family. She does need to worry about buying a school uniform, books and the school kit for her daughter and her niece who will soon be going to school.

The only other member of Uma's family who has a job is her brother who works as a carpenter. All of them, including four small children and their parents, live in one house in a village of Temiraul in Khasavyurt region.

As the Vpered project draws to a close, Russia is at the centre of media attention with its presidential and parliamentary elections, oil and gas politics, and its rising military and economic power. Its economy is on the rise, and over the last few years several social sectors - education, health care, housing and agriculture have been named key priorities for the government with programmes of development for each of these areas supervised by Dmitry Medvedev, who has now been elected the President of Russia.

World Vision Russian Federation is working with rural families in Khasavyurt district of Dagestan to create sustainable livelihoods by training entrepreneurs on how to start or expand their businesses according to the methodology developed by the International Labour Organisation, teaching them basic accounting skills, how to generate business ideas and develop a realistic business plan. Successful graduates receive small grants that allow them to start on their own – purchase cattle or equipment for a workshop or a shop, or build a greenhouse. This project is implemented in cooperation with the International Rescue Committee, which is carrying out similar activities in one of the regions of Chechnya.

10 Killed in Dagestan

2008-03-16T15:23:00.000+02:00

Russian forces on Friday raided a forest camp in the volatile North Caucasus province of Dagestan, leading to a shootout in which six suspected militants, a police officer and an Interior Ministry servicemen died, authorities said.

In separate incidents in Ingushetia, another neighboring province of Chechnya, unidentified assailants shot and killed an officer of the Federal Security Service (FSB) — the successor to the KGB — and a gunman fatally shot a police lieutenant in his car at point blank range.

Two other FSB officers were seriously wounded in the first attack.

The government forces in Dagestan, which lies east of Chechnya, were conducting a security sweep in the province's Buinaksk district when they raided the camp, an Interior Ministry spokesman said. Authorities said several guns and a makeshift grenade were found at the site.

Bombings against police convoys and other representatives of federal authority, once common, have diminished in recent years in the region. But the last few weeks have seen a spike in attempted attacks against police.

Derbent

2008-03-08T13:31:00.002+02:00

Derbent is the city in Dagestan on narrow pass between Caspian sea and foothills of Caucasus. Derbent — the most ancient city of the Russian Federation. The first settlements have arisen here during an epoch of early bronze — in the end 5.000 up to a.d ., that is five thousand years ago. The first mention of the Caspian gate — the most ancient name of Derbent — concerns to VI century up to a.d ., it is brought by known ancient greek geographer Gekatej Miletsky (VI century up to a.d).

Geographical position

The city is located on western of Caspian sea, near to a mouth of the river Samur, there where mountains of the Big Caucasus most close approach(suit) to Caspian sea, leaving only narrow three-kilometer strip of plain; closing it(her), the city formed so-called Derbentskiy or the Caspian pass. The role of Derbent and Caspian was great, it has been located in one of most strategically important and topopgraphical a convenient place of the well-known Near-Caspian way connecting the East Europe and Forward Asia.

Chronology
Derbent is based(founded,established) by the Iranian tsar Iezdigerdom II (rules in 435-57) as city-fortress on northern border of the Persian possession. The fortress protected pass between the Caucasian mountains and Caspian sea, being on ways between the Europe and Forward Asia, as is reflected in the name: Iranian Derbent " mountain pass, gorge; castle, a fortress ".

In 630th Derbent have grasped by Hazars.
About 652 Derbent in structure of Arabian halifat. In city mosques were under construction, the most part of inhabitants has been turned into an islam.
In 8 century Derbent - the large military-political center of Caucasus in which there was a residence of the deputy of caliph. In 10 century, with disintegration Arabian halifat, Derbent becomes the center independent emirates.
In 1071 city Turks have grasped.
In 13 century Derbent won by Mongols, falls into decay.
In 16 - the beginning 18 centuries Derbent - in structure of Iran.
In 1722 it is attached to Russia.
In 1735 again has departed to Iran.
In 1796 it is borrowed(occupied) by Russian armies,
In 1813 it is finally attached to Russian empire.
About 1840 Derbent - district, with 1846.
Since 1840th experienced the fast economic rise connected, in particular, with cultivation Marens - plants from which received cheap dye. In 19 century gardening, wine growing and fishing have been developed also.
In 1898 through Derbent there has passed(there has taken place) the railway.

Explosion in Dagestan

2008-02-13T13:50:00.002+02:00

In Dagestan infact of explotion three civilan including one police officer were wounded. Bomb was planted on the road which police forces used.

As inform occupational sources republic of Dagestan, incident was been near the Khasayurt on highway "Kavkaz".

Fight in Babayurtovskiy region (Dagestan)

2008-02-13T13:17:00.002+02:00

As inform occupational sources, in area Babayurtovskiy region in Dagestan , during fight with group of mojaheds, the leader of FSB on area Babayurtovskiy region Dagir Zaharyaev kiled. His security guard heavy wounded.
Fight was in territory a facilities the animal industries belonging settlement Sasitli of area Tsumadinskiy region of Dagestan early in the morning on February, 12th, 2008).
The Russian forces confirmed that during fight three rebels were killed.

Our sites

2008-02-01T22:30:00.000+02:00

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Inside Dagestan's 'counter-terror' sweep

2008-02-01T22:22:00.000+02:00

IWPR reporter visits village which the security forces say was a rebel stronghold.

The long road to Gimri is long and dotted with security checks. As you enter the mountains, the armoured vehicles begin to get more frequent.

On January 25, the Dagestani authorities arranged a trip for journalists to the mountainous village of Gimri, birthplace of 19th century warrior leader Imam Shamil and - in the last six weeks - the scene of clashes between security forces and Islamic rebels.

Reporters travelling to the Untsukul region, where Gimri is located, were given a police escort on the grounds that the situation was still dangerous. There are checkpoints along the only road leading to Gimri and it is impossible to travel there without being accompanied or obtaining special permission.

The whole region was sealed off in December after the murder of a Dagestani parliamentary deputy, and more than 3,000 security personnel were sent to re-establish government control in the area. (See CRS 426, " Troops Hunt Rebels in Dagestan Mountains.")

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2008-01-29T01:27:00.000+02:00

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Dagestan

Old Avar(Dagestan) Songs

2008-01-29T01:24:00.000+02:00

Old Avar Songs. From mountains of Dagestan
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Tens thousand people without heat and light in Makhachkala

2008-01-19T02:07:00.000+02:00

More than 30 thousand person remain Makhachkala without light and heat. In capital occupied the Russian armies Dagestan have developed an emergency with the electric power.

Except for that because of constant switching-off of light work of three boiler-houses is broken(disturbed). Without heating still not only apartment houses, but also kindergartens, schools, hospitals, inform occupational sources.

Let's remind, that earlier city dwellers left on protest action, blocking roads. Puppet authorities have declared in the answer, that city dwellers « show extremism ».

Dagestan (Video Documentation)

2008-01-17T03:50:00.000+02:00

This documentation film has been taken by a German's. It's about Dagestan customs. It's showing how Dagestan people live there. It's in German language...

PART2 A/B
PART3
PART4

Fight in Makhachkala

2008-01-15T05:42:00.000+02:00

As inform occupational sources, on the night of on January, 14th, 2008 in capital of Dagestan Makhachkala mojaheds have entered fight with superior forces Russian and local police. From initial messages follows, that between 3 mojaheds and local police there was a firing, and then some explosions have followed. Occupational sources have declared, that the group of mojaheds has become stronger in one of apartments in the multi-storey house.

Fight goes in the center of Dagestan

2008-01-14T02:12:00.000+02:00

As inform occupational sources, in capital Dagestan, mojaheds have entered fight with superior forces . From the message follows, that on between three mojaheds there was a firing, and then some explosions have followed.

From last message it became known, that at present intensive shooting is stopped, but from time to time on a place of carrying out of operation automatic turns and explosions are distributed. 5 Floors buildings are in densety populated area of capital, near to school. The area is surrounded, pulled together weapons.

Hits from Makhachkala (Mahachkala)

2008-01-14T02:03:00.000+02:00

Download Here
Password:www.dolalay.com

Best of Lezginka's

2008-01-14T01:56:00.001+02:00

Best of Lezginka's. There's 7 best lezginka hits from Dagestan.
Download Here
Password:www.dolalay.com

Dagestan Rap Music (Avar)

2008-01-14T01:46:00.001+02:00

I found a video clip on YouTube about Dagestan Rap. It's like a cartoon but nice : ) They'r reading a rap on Russian, Avar and Kumuk languages. Backround music 50Cent's In da club : )

Avar Songs Dagestan Music

2008-01-13T03:49:00.001+02:00

Avar songs from Mountains of Dagestan Music
Download Here
Password: www.dolalay.com

The Music of the Mountain Jews

2008-01-13T03:47:00.001+02:00

The Music of the Mountain Jews from Dagestan
Download Here
Password: www.dolalay.com

Music of Dagestan

2008-01-13T03:05:00.000+02:00

Lezginka Music Dagestan Makhachkala
Part 1 | Part 2
Password: www.dolalay.com

Dagestan Rap Music

2008-01-13T02:57:00.002+02:00

Rap Music from Dagestan =)
Download here
Password: www.dolalay.com

sites

2008-01-10T18:19:00.000+02:00

http://elmas-pirlanta.blogspot.com
http://bildirgec-haber.blogspot.com
http://nurmagomedov.blogspot.com
http://shiftdelete-haber.blogspot.com
http://universityof-phoenix.blogspot.com
http://kusmuq.org
http://windowslive.org.ru

Heroics of Imam Shamil

2008-01-08T19:10:00.000+02:00

Chechnya is a tiny Caucasian land-locked enclave, predominantly
inhabited by the Muslims. It has been in continuous confrontation with
Russia since the 18th century.

It all started when the Czar's expansionist policies gradually brought
many parts of Central Asia and Caucasia under the influence of Russia.
However, the Caucasians did not accept foreign domination and put up
severe resistance.

The struggle for maintaining sovereignty reached its peak when the
'Murid Movement' under the leadership of Imam Shamil, a man of
extraordinary charisma and master of guerrilla tactics, began
resisting the Russian expansion into Chechen and Daghestan borders far
more than 25 years.

Imam Shamil was born in a village called Gimrah. He was a natural
leader and did not have any extremist tendencies. He turned many
tribes into a cohesive unit and developed such a power base that
proved good for outmanoeuvring the Russians.

He first became a trusted lieutenant of Ghazi Muhammad, the first Imam
of Daghistan, who had declared Jihad against the Russians. It was in a
fierce battle against the Russians that the first Imam was surrounded
and got killed along with his companions in their stronghold at
Gimrah. Only Shamil and one of his men survived. Shamil continued
putting up severe resistance to Russian advancement under the
leadership of another Imam. However, when the second Imam was also
killed, Shamil was unanimously chosen as the leader and the third Imam
of Daghistan.

Owing to his extraordinary military talent and despite the Russian
influence, he managed to control Daghistan. The Russian commander who
failed to capture the territories he wanted, was able to recognize
Imam Shamil's extraordinary military talents and on several occasions
had to ask for peace. As a result, Imam Shamil's reputation as a
leader spread all over the place, making him 'enemy number one' to the
Russian military administration. Realizing Imam Shamil's growing
influence on the tribes of nearby Chechnya, the Russians launched a
massive military attack against his headquarters.

After a series of bloody engagements that ensued, the Russians were
finally able to surround the brave Imam and his men in their mountain
fortress. When he refused to surrender after several weeks of fierce
fighting, the Russians ruthlessly cut his garrison into pieces.
Miraculously, Imam Shamil again made an almost incredible escape under
the enemy's very nose. His spirit was far from broken. This time,
however, he found new powerful allies among the Chechans, who were
disgusted at the continued Russian encroachment on their independence.
After regaining strength with new powerful allies Imam Shamil expanded
his power and delivered several shattering blows to the invading
forces of the Czar in Chechnya and Avaristan.

Exasperated by these reversals, Czar Nicholas I ordered a determined
campaign to crush the resistance. In 1844, a force organized and led
by Prince Vorontsove with 10,000 men was dispatched - but it also
proved disasterous. From 1846 to 1849 they prepared all out
strategies, erected fortifications in and cut roads through the
impenetrable forests of Chechnya. At the same time, they pacified the
population of fertile plains, chasing those who refused to submit to
the Russians' will. In the meantime, another Russian force attempted
to eradicate Imam Shamil's stronghold in central Daghistan, a goal for
which they paid an enormous price.

Their successes, nonetheless, proved short-lived. Once the Russian
troops had withdrawn, the Imam quickly built his fortification and
invaded southern Daghistan, whose free communities had asked for his
assistance against the oppressive Russian rule.

During 1851-53, the battles in which Imam Shamil personally took part
were centred around Chechnya with results generally favourable to the
Russians. But throughout this period, faced with the prospect of going
to war with the Ottomans, the Russians were unable to capitalize on
their earlier successes and diverted their attention to the Ottomans
front, giving Imam Shamil a much-needed respite. He also sought help
from Britain, but the British refused to oblige.

After getting a bit of relief from the Ottoman forces, the Russians
paid undivided attention to the Caucasus. In a relentless advance,
Imam Shamil made his last move on the top of mount Ghunib, surrounded
by his family members and 400 loyal men. In the face of inevitable
destruction due to overwhelming might of the Russian empire, he
surrendered unconditionally to the Russians in 1859. He was given
abode in Kaluga, a town about 120 miles southwest of Moscow, where he
lived along with his family. In 1869 he was allowed to move to Kiev
(now capital of Ukraine) and was subsequently given permission to
leave to Makkah for performing Haj where ho found his final resting
place.

In 1920, after the communist revolution, a Chechen autonomous oblast
(province) was created. Later on it was merged with Ingush and was
subsequently given the status of a republic. In World War II, Chechan
and Ingush people were accused of collaborating with the Germans and
were awarded severe punishment by extraditing them to Central Asia.

In 1957, Under Nikita Khrushchev's government, Russia rescinded its
earlier decision and the province was restored and exiled were also
allowed to return home. However, the freedom movement which gained
momentum during Imam Shamil's time continued and did not die down.
Following the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991, the movement
even gained more impetus. In 1992 Checheno-Ingushetiva was divided
into two separate republics, Chechnya and Ingushetia.

The torch of freedom struggle lit up by Imam Shamil still continues to
glow.

A Dangerous Oil Game in Dagestan

2008-01-08T03:00:00.000+02:00

At the turn of the 20th century, J. D. Rockefeller made the Standard Oil
fortune in the waters at the southern end of the Caspian Sea, near the
Caucasian city of Baku. The fierce international competition for those riches
was described as the Great Game..
A century later, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, this term has been
revived to describe the renewed struggle among multinational corporations and
global political powers to control the oil and gas fields of the Caspian
region. The stakes are higher today than they were for Rockefeller because of
the discovery of oil fields in Kazakhstan at the northern end of the Caspian,
and natural gas to the east in Turkmenistan..
Russia and the Western powers are operating in the region on an increasingly
competitive basis, on the assumption that Caspian development is a zero-sum
game. They are building military alliances with local governments and
engaging in exercises with local troops..
In the United States, the competitive outlook is intensified by a
consideration of petroleum products as a national security issue. Around the
Caspian, however, this approach contributes to local political instability,
diminishes regional security, heightens the risk for investments in the
region and reduces opportunities for effective extraction of Caspian
resources..
The Great Game metaphor has become a misleading, possibly dangerous,
anachronism. It is dangerous because while it is appropriate to the keen
sense of geopolitical competition in the region, it invites participants to
forget that most parts of the region either are currently scenes of conflict
or are only a few steps away from ignition. Heightened international
competition will certainly produce sparks and further conflagrations would be
costly for everyone. It is no longer possible to treat the locals as pawns in
a game, so it is impossible to separate the extraction of energy resources
from local economic development and political stability..
The combination of energy extraction with development and stability appears
to be the strategy of the Russian government in the sleepy Caspian seaport of
Mahachkala, in the Russian republic of Dagestan. It appears that Moscow is
determined to transform Mahachkala into a major oil and gas terminal. It has
completed reconstruction of the petroleum pipeline from Baku to the Russian
Black Sea port of Novorossisk, bypassing Chechnya through Dagestani
territory. The pipeline now includes a 17-kilometer link to Mahachkala's
seaport, which has permitted officials in Russia's Transneft oil organization
to urge Western oil executives to transfer Turkmen and Kazakh crude through
Mahachkala's facilities..
There appear to be at least three related reasons for Moscow's interest in
Mahachkala's increasing hydrocarbon traffic. First, it is clear that Moscow
wants to support the Dagestani economy, and thereby contribute to the
Republic's political stability. Budgetary transfers from Moscow to Mahachkala
have increased sixfold in the last two years..
Second, Moscow has now recognized that Dagestan is the key to its presence in
the North Caucasus. Third, this presence is particularly important to Moscow
because Dagestan, on the Western shore of the Caspian, has historically been
the point of north-south connection in the region. If Moscow is to maintain
its presence in the southern Caspian-Caucasus region, it must maintain a
vital presence in Dagestan..
If these considerations are the basis of Moscow's strategy in the Caucasus
then that strategy makes sense in terms of the challenge posed by Caspian
hydrocarbon development. Among hydrocarbon basins the Caspian is uniquely
landlocked. From the Caspian Sea to Western industrial centers, all routes
for hydrocarbon transport run through the Caucasus..
It will be more difficult for the West to get anything into or out of the
Caspian basin if there are political problems in the Caucasus, and there will
be political problems in this impoverished region unless hydrocarbon
extraction results in local economic development..
An alternative to the Great Game would emphasize local stability, giving
greater attention to local cultures, problems and politics, with
international cooperation toward broad-based economic development. Only
through attention to regional stability will the players succeed in the
extraction of Caspian resources..
The writer, an assistant professor at Southern Illinois University,
contributed this comment to the International Herald Tribune.

FC Anzhi Makhachkala

2008-01-07T21:07:00.000+02:00

FC Anzhi Makhachkala is a Russian football club based in Makhachkala, capital of Dagestan. Currently the club plays in the Russian First Division.

Colours are (Home) green shirts, white shorts (Away) yellow shirts,black shorts or red shirts with white arms, red shorts.

The club was founded in 1991 and has played in the Russian league since 1992. In 1992 the team entered the Second Division and played there until promotion in 1996, when Eduard Malofeev coached them. In 1999 Anzhi won the First Division. In 2000 the team debuted in the Top Division and just missed the bronze medals. A penalty was awarded against Anzhi on the 95th minute of the last league match, and Torpedo converted it to clinch the third position. Anzhi finished fourth, recording the best result in club's history. In 2001 they reached the final of the Russian Cup, but lost to Lokomotiv on penalties.

Anzhi were relegated from the Premier League in 2002 and play in the First Division since then.

Karatins (Karatas)

2008-01-06T04:27:00.001+02:00

THE KARATAS

The self-designation is khkhiridi and their language is called khkhirlhi matshtshi. Karata belongs to the Andi subgroup of the northwest Dagestan languages (the Avar-Ando-Dido languages) in the Caucasian language family. Two dialects (Karata, Tokita) and four subdialects (Anchikh, Archi, Ratsitl and Rachabalda) are distinguishable. The Karata and Tokita dialects differ both in regard to phonetics and morphology, but they are mutually comprehensible. The Karatas do not have their own written language, the need is served by Avar which is widely known. The ancient vocabulary of the Karatas is fairly well preserved. There is a notable Avar and Russian influence especially in the vocabulary relating to everyday life and social-political terminology.

The Karatas inhabit ten villages in the Akhvakh and Khazavyurt districts of Dagestan. Nine of them lie on the left bank of the Andi-Koisu river: Karata, Rachabalda, Archo, Anchikh, Mashtada, Tshabakoro, Ratsitl and Tokita. The only Karata village located in the Khazavyurt district is Siukh. Their neighbours to the east and north are the Andis, to the west the Avars, and to the south the Akhvakhs and Bagulals.

Anthropologically the Karata belong to the Caucasus type of the Balkano-Caucasian race, characterized by fair pigmentation, a big head and high stature. Some characteristics of the Caspian type have been noted.

The first and the last census that counted the Karatas separately was carried out in 1926. After this they were counted as Avars. In academic publications since World War II there have been some cursory remarks about their number, but these are usually very approximate estimates.

In 1926 (official census data) -- 5,305, 100 % speakers, in 1958 (according to Y. Desheriyev) -- 6,000, in 1967 (according to Z. Magomedbekova) -- 5,000.

Denominationally the Karatas are Muslim (Sunnite). The first Islamic missionaries arrived on the banks of the Andi-Koisu in the 8th century but Islam became established only in the 16th century. In the 8th and 9th centuries Christianity was introduced into the northwestern part of Avaria and Karata with the help of Georgian and Kakhetian rulers in the west. Christianity lost ground after the campaigns of Timur (Tamerlane) and the disintegration of Georgia in the 13th and 14th centuries.

Ethnologically the Karatas and the Avars are very similar. This is evident in both the material culture and folk traditions. There are some local differences, but they are minimal.

The Avars and the Karatas share a similar history. Avaria as a territory and the Avars as an ethnic group were mentioned in the works of classical authors. It is not known when the Avar language separated from the Karata language. It is assumed that the multi-lingualism in the Andi-Koisu basin has been caused by long-term territorial isolation. This theory is refuted by the historical contacts and close economic integration among the Ando-Dido peoples in the Andi-Koisu basin. The Karata villages were only isolated from the lowlands by natural barriers. Today theories which support the endogamic organization of the community (L. Lavrov) or a polystructural political system (M. Aglarov) are more popular.

Between the 8th and 12th centuries Avaria was under the control of Arab conquerors. In the course of the Mongol-Tatar conquests of the 13th and 14th centuries and the Turkish-Persian invasion in the 15th century, the Avar khanate was formed. This was centred on the Karata habitat and, not later than the 18th century, a kind of social organization, a 'free community', had been established there. During the following centuries the Karatas were engaged in warfare with neighbouring Ando-Dido peoples. Conflicts arose chiefly because of controversy over grazing rights on alpine pastures. In the 18th century the Karata formed an alliance with the Gidatl community against the Akhvakh. The whole of the 19th century is characterized by unrest in northwestern Avaria due to the activities of the muridi (Islamic mystical brotherhood) under the leadership of Shamil, and the continuous warfare in the Caucasus. In spite of the fact that officially Dagestan and Avaria were joined with Russia in 1806, an administrative structure did not develop there until the 1870s.

The economic activity of the Karatas has always been dependant on natural conditions. The availability of good pastures in summer and winter, gave rise to the importance of seasonal stock farming. Sheep were kept, and in villages, cattle and horses also for work and transport purposes. Since there was a shortage of cultivable land and natural conditions were unfavourable, agriculture was only of secondary importance. A part of the problem was solved with irrigated terraced farming. Wheat, rye, flax, and later potatoes and vegetables, were grown. The prevailing type of economy was barter. Household handicrafts occupied an important place and were highly developed. People tried to improve their financial situation by doing odd jobs in other districts and towns of Avaria. The annexation of Dagestan to Russia gave the economy a boost as it laid a new basis for trade and finance. However, there was no rapid economic development, which might be attributed to the relative isolation of the area. On the other hand, the annexation did introduce colonialism which advocated the interests of central authorities, not the needs of local people.

The smallest unit of Karata society was the village community (dzhamat) whose highest organ was the village assembly (rukken). The assembly elected the village elder (chaubi) and his two helpers. The religious life of the community was directed by the qadi (an Islamic leader). With the establishment of Russian administration these institutions were linked to the Russian bureaucracy.

Soviet supremacy was officially recognized in Dagestan in 1920. There were several hindrances to the assertion of the new power. These hindrances were focused in nationalist and religious movements whose goal was independence. A strong separatist movement arose in the Ando-Dido area which sought to establish links with the Mountain State formed in Georgia in 1917. In order to strengthen its control Moscow used both force and more peaceful methods. The former prevailed before World War II, the latter following. Two campaigns were launched: collectivization and cultural revolution. Resistance to collectivization and an uprising in west Avaria in 1930 enabled the Soviets to openly employ armed force and to crush the nationalist movement.

Today, the key issues for the survival of the Karatas are: the vitality and preservation of their language; the preservation of material ethnic culture against the advance of European urban culture (clothing, furniture, household appliances, housing); the preservation of folk traditions against encroaching Soviet traditions. The most important of these is the preservation of the language, as this is the only thing that distinguishes the Karatas and the Avars. Today, Karata is only spoken at home. For communication outside the home and for administrative purposes the Karatas use Avar. The result is widespread bilingualism. The Soviet-style educational system adopted by the Avars helps the advance of other languages (primary education in Avar, secondary education in Russian). The Karata tongue is not taught at schools. At the same time, the Soviet educational system serves as a tool for centralized ideology and propaganda; it is dismissive of local national peculiarities and opposes free thought.

The encroachment of European urban culture is linked to the growth of towns, the loss of territorial isolation and the influx of mass-produced goods. Domestic handicrafts are dying out or acquiring the status of arts. The Soviet variant of the urbanization process continues and is to be seen as a furtherance of colonial policies.

Ethnic culture has been further damaged by the forcible inculcation of Soviet traditions. Old customs have been ridiculed and there has been strong atheistic propaganda. Schools have played a key role in shaping new attitudes. The results are apparent in the different attitudes to folk tradition expressed by the older and the younger generations. The old keep traditions alive while the young have abandoned them and have gradually adopted Soviet customs. The crisis is yet to come, but what has taken place already points to the complete eradication of any national characteristics.

Photos of Akhvakh Region

2007-12-20T15:57:00.000+02:00

I found photos from Akhvakh region. There is also photos from Karata Village. To see all photos click here.

Lezginka

2007-12-20T09:37:00.000+02:00

Lezginka is a folk dance of Caucasusian People. It takes its names from the Lezgin people. Caucasian Avars, Azerbaijanis, Circassians, Abkhazians, Mountain Jews, Ossetians, the Russian Kuban and Terek Cossacks and many other tribes have their own versions.

WindowsLive.org.ru

2007-12-15T21:30:00.002+02:00

WindowsLive.org.ru will be made by Nurmagomedov. WindowsLive.org.ru will contain all about MSN Messenger, WindowsLive Messenger, Avatars, WindowsLive Messenger Hacks, WindowsLive Messenger Skins and lastes news about WindowsLive.org.ru. It will also contain special skins made by Nurmagomedov. WindowsLive.org.ru will be the best site about WindowsLive Messenger and tools. Just wait for a week to WindowsLive.org.ru open.

Imam Shamil

2007-12-13T03:52:00.000+02:00

Imam Shamil was born in 1797 in the small village of Gimry which is in current-day Dagestan, Russia. He was Avar like Nurmagomedov Family. His father was a free landlord, and this position allowed Shamil and close friends Ghazi Mullah to study many subjects including Arabic and logic. Shamil also joined the Naqshbandi Mujaddidy Khalidiya Sufi order, and established himself as a well-respected and educated man among other Muslims of the Caucasus.

Shamil was born at a time when the Russian Empire was expanding into the territories of the Ottoman Empire and Persia (see Russo-Persian War (1804-1813) and Russo-Turkish War). Following the Russian invasion, many Caucasian nations united in resistance to harsh Tsarist rule in what became known as the Caucasian War. Some of the earlier leaders of Caucasian resistance were Sheikh Mansur, and Ghazi Mollah. Shamil was actually childhood friends with Mollah, and would become his disciple.

In 1834, Ghazi Mollah died at the battle of Ghimri, and Shamil took his place as the premier leader of the Caucasian resistance and the Imam of the Naqshbandi Mujadidyi Khalidiya Tariqat. In 1839 (June-August), Shamil and his followers, numbering about 4000 men, women and children found themselves under siege in their mountain stronghold of Akhoulgo, nestled in the bend of the Andee Koisou River, about ten miles east of Gimry. This epic siege of the war lasted eighty days, resulting finally in a Russian victory. The Russians suffered about 3000 casualties in taking the stronghold, while the rebels were almost entirely slaughtered after extremely bitter fighting where typical of the war, no quarter was either asked or given. Shamil and a small party of his closest followers, including some family miraculously managed to escape down the cliffs and through the Russian siege lines during the final days at Akhoulgo. Following his escape he once again set about regaining his following and resisting the Russian occupation. Shamil was effective at uniting the many, frequently quarreling, Caucasian tribes to fight against the Russians. He made effective use of guerrilla warfare tactics and the resistance continued under his leadership until 1859. On August 25, 1859 Shamil and his family surrendered to Russian forces and were jailed in the Dagestan aoul of Gunib.

After his capture, Shamil was sent to Saint Petersburg to meet the Emperor Alexander II. Afterwards he was exiled to Kaluga, then a small town near Moscow. After several years in Kaluga he complained to the authorities about the climate and in December, 1868 Shamil received the permission to move to Kiev, a commercial center of the Empire's southwest. In Kiev he was afforded a mansion at the Aleksandrovskaya Street. The Imperial authorities ordered the Kievan superintendent to keep Shamil under "strict but not overly burdensome surveillance" and allotted the city a significant sum for the needs of the exilee. Shamil seemed to have liked his luxurious detainment as well as the city as confirmed the letters he sent from Kiev.

In 1869 he was given a permission to take Hajj to the holy city of Mecca. He traveled there by ship from Kiev through Odessa and Istanbul. He died in Medina in 1871 while visiting the city, and was buried in the Jannatul Baqi which is also the site where many important personalities from Islamic history are buried. His two sons (Cemaleddin and Muhammed Şefi) became officers in the Russian army, while two other sons (Muhammed Gazi and Muhammed Kamil) served in the Turkish army.

Shamil continues to be revered in the Caucasus for his resistance to the Russians, and is held up as a role-model by those leading the current fight against Russian control of the region.

Photos of Village Karata

2007-12-13T03:14:00.001+02:00

Karata-Akhvakv Region-Dagestan
Nurmagomedov's Village : )

As you know Nurmagomedov Family comes from village Karata in Akhvakh region of Dagestan. It's 4 hours away from Mahachkala. Karata is center of Akhvakh region and biggest village there. In Karata speaks Karatian Language. It's like Akhvakh language but a little diffrents. First photo is taken from Nurmagomedov Nurmagomed's (biggest) grinder. Grinder is very old place and wracked.

Second photo is near the grinder. There is a river down the grinder. This river waters come from mountans of Akhvakh region. And there's a brigde over the river. The brigde is very old but very strong. Maybe the oldest building in Karata.

The mountains of Ahkvakh region. It's belong to neigbour village of Karata.

The most beautiful cow in Karata :) Maybe in Akhvakh region also :P

That's a little part photos of Karata. What a beauty Nurmagomedov's have :)

Mahachkala (Makhachkala)

2007-12-12T16:51:00.000+02:00

Mahachkala — city in Russia, capital of Dagestan. The population of city — 466,3 thousand person. (2006), agglomerations — 760 thousand person. (2005).

Mahachkala is located on western Caspian sea, on a narrow strip of Seaside lowland, at bottom of mountain Tarkitau, near foothills of the Big Caucasus, in 2166 km from Moscow.

The chapter(head) of administration of city — Said Dzhaparovich Amirov.

History

The settlement has been based(founded,established) in 1844 as Russian military strengthening Peter which among mountaineers was known under name Anji-Kala (an earthen fortress). In 1857 settlement has received the status of city and the name Port which has been connected with a legend that during the Persian campaign 1722 in this place camp of an army of Peter I. In 1870 the artificial harbour and port has been constructed. After connection of city by railways with Vladikavkaz and Baku (1894-96) turnover of goods of port has considerably increased.

In the end XIX — the beginning of XX centuries in port have been constructed oil refining and underwater factories, making paper and tobacco factories, railway workshops.

In 1921 city has received a modern name Mahachkala in honour of Dagestan revolutionary Makhacha Dakhadaeva (1882—1918). The name is formed as a result of merge of words «Mahach» and «Kala» (« city, a fortress »).

With 1921 on 1990 Mahachkala was capital Dagestan ????, then republics Dagestans. Mahachkala has strongly suffered during earthquake on May, 14th 1970.

Economy

Mechanical engineering and metal working: manufacture the equipment, separators, multiple dredges, devices, the equipment for the food-processing industry, etc.

Chemical and light industry (including fish, canning, wine). Manufacture of building materials: fiber glass, a silicate brick, ferro-concrete designs.

The trading port of Mahachkala carries out cargoes, basically the mineral oil acting from Baku, Krasnovodsk, Astrakhan, etc.

Architecture, sights

In 5-6 km from Mahachkala, on mountain Tarkitau, — settlement Tarki on which place, under the legend, in VII-X centuries existed Caspisian the city of Semender, approximately up to 723 was capital Khazarskogo Jamaat, then — aul Tarkş with 3 mosques, above there was a fortress Rough (1821; the observation post strengthened by a stone laying) was kept.

Nurmagomedov Family Roots

2007-12-12T16:44:00.000+02:00

Nurmagomedov Amirali (1990)& Nurmagomedov Arsen (1987)
x
Nurmagomedov Nurmagomed (1961)
x
Nurmagomedov Magomedrasul (1923-2007)
x
Nurmagomedov Nurmagomed (1867-1951)
x
Nurmagomedov Kvadimagomed (1900)*
x
Nurmagomedov Magomed (1850)*
x
Nurmagomedov Kvukyulav (1800)*
x
Nurmagomedov Khuchulav(1750)*
x
Nurmagomedov Kvukyulav(1700)*
x
Nurmagomedov Makhach(1650)*
x
Nurmagomedov Shikali(1600)*
x
Nurmagomedov Magomed(1550)*
x
...
*=approximately

The Akhvakhs

2007-12-12T12:36:00.000+02:00

The self-designation of the Akhvakhs is ashvado, and their language ashvalkhi mitskhtskhi. Their closest neighbours and linguistic relatives, the Avars, call them ghakhyevalá, hence the internationally known designation. The Akhvakh language belongs to the Andi subgroup of the Avar-Ando-Dido or northwestern group of the Dagestan languages and is divided into two dialects: North-Akhvakh and South-Akhvakh. The first is homogeneous, while the latter is further divided into the Tlyanub and Tsegob subdialects. The difference between the South-Avar and North-Avar is rather considerable and users of the two dialects prefer communicating in the Avar language. The ancient layers of the vocabulary have been preserved quite well, even though complemented by numerous Arabic, Avar and Russian loans. As the Akhvakh language has not been studied much, the first publications date from the 1940s.

The Akhvakhs live in the northwestern part of Dagestan, in the mountains between the Andi-Koisu and Avar-Koisu rivers. Between the territories of other nations their habitat represents two small enclaves that could perhaps conventionally be called the northern and the southern territories. The former is situated in the Akhvakh District and consists of five villages: Tad-Magitl, Kvankero, Logonitl, Kuydab-Roso and Izani. The southern territory comprises three villages: Ratlub, Tsegob and Tlyanub. Administratively they belong to the Sovetsky District. One Akhvakh village called Akhvakh-Dere is found in the Zakataly District of Azerbaijan. The southern villages are surrounded by Avar settlements, the northern ones border on Avar areas to the east and south, and on Tindi areas to the north.

Population. As a separate nation the Akhvakhs have been counted only since the 1926 census. The data from the 1950s and 1960s has been taken from academic publications and is approximate.

Anthropologically the Akhvakhs belong to the Caucasian type of the Balkano-Caucasian race. They are characterized by a relatively light skin, tall stature, a broad face and a massive skull. Some features, however, echo the Caspian type and sometimes they are considered a transitional type between the Caucasian and the Caspian anthropological types.

The religion of the Akhvakhs is Sunnite Islam, introduced in Dagestan by the 8th-century Arab invaders and becoming really influential following the raid of Timur in the 14th century. The consolidation of Islam was inhibited by the simultaneous advance of Christianity from the west. Alongside the weakening of the Georgian state, however, the base for Christianity shrank and Islam prevailed. As people living in a natural state the Akhvakhs also nurtured many pagan beliefs which in an adapted from Islam persist until today.

Ethnoculturally the Akhvakhs are connected to the Avars and other Ando-Dido peoples. Common traits can be observed both in the material and spiritual spheres while local peculiarities are few (waxen water jugs, certain elements in the national dress). The only cultural feature distinguishing the Akhvakhs from the Avars is their language, but this was already restricted to domestic use by the beginning of the 20th century while the rest of the communication, even inside the villages, proceeded in the Avar language.

The history of the Akhvakhs coincides to a large extent with that of the Avars as their territories are in close proximity. Since the 7th century the region has suffered from foreign invasions. In Avaria the 8th--14th century period can be considered the era of Arabs and Mongol-Tatars, the 15th--18th centuries were characterized by hostile contacts with Turkish and Persian invaders, to be followed by a Russian period beginning in the 19th century. During the 15th--18th centuries the Akhvakh people were subjects of the Avar Khanate, but the subordination was rather nominal as geographical isolation prevented the Khan from exercising his power on the Akhvakh territories. By the 17th century the Akhvakhs had developed two small administrative structures, the so-called free communities of Ratlu-Akhvakh and Tsunta-Akhvakh. The development of the communities, however, was hindered by incessant domestic troubles and warring. Historical records tell of the wars waged by the Akhvakhs against the Bagulals and the Karatas. Even a military union was concluded between the Karata and the Gidatl community against the Akhvakhs. In 1806 the territory of the Akhvakhs was united with Russia, but, as this could not end the wars either, the regular functioning of the Russian administrative and executive organs was achieved only by 1860--1870.

The economy was shaped by the natural conditions. The mountain pastures created ideal conditions for seasonal livestock breeding. Sheep were raised, as well as cattle and horses. Domestic fowl (poultry) were kept. Wool and cheese were exchanged for grain produced on flatter lands. Land cultivation, despite its high level, had an auxiliary role. As arable lands were scarce they had to be created artificially. The solution was found in terraced fields supplied by a good irrigation system. The main crops were wheat and rye, later potatoes and vegetables were added. On the sunny slopes horticulture and viticulture were practised. The incorporation of Avaria into Russia meant access to the Russian market which, in its turn, boosted the local economy. Monetary and commercial relations developed, creating material differentiation within the society. On the other hand subordination to Russia meant being subjected to the colonial policy of the central authority, a policy took little heed of the wishes of the local peoples.

Soviet power that was officially established in Dagestan on January 20, 1920 and immediately faced serious consolidation problems. First, it was necessary to do away with the territorial isolation of the mountain villages. Secondly, a schooling system had to be introduced that would spread Soviet ideology alongside intensified central propaganda. All this was meant to change the national ideology and mentality of the Akhvakh people. Results, however, being slowish to appear pre-war campaigns (collectivization, anti-Islam struggle) were carried out with violence and bloodshed. During collectivization many Akhvakh nationalist were killed.

Radical changes in the mentality and everyday life of the Akhvakhs emerged only after World War II, particularly in the 1960s and 1970s and especially amongst the younger generation. This was expressed in the different attitudes towards folk customs towards their observance and preservation. Since then the young have tended more and more to adopt Soviet ways and European urban clothing. The old customs, when observed, are not observed from any inner compulsion, but rather out of mere inertia or respect for the older generation. The traditions are falling into oblivion. The most acute problem for the Akhvakhs is connected with their mother tongue. At school the first five forms are taught in Avar, and from then on, in Russian. No subjects are taught in Akhvakh. The norms of endogamy that previously used to regulate the family relations have receded, and the number of mixed marriages is growing.

My lands. Dagestan!

2007-12-11T14:46:00.001+02:00

The Republic of Dagestan older spelling Daghestan, is a federal subject of the Russian Federation. Capital of Dagestan is Mahachkala.

Geography

The republic is situated in the North Caucasus mountains. It is the southernmost part of Russia.
Area: 50,300 km²
Borders:
internal: Republic of Kalmykia (N), Chechen Republic (W), and Stavropol Krai (NW)
international: Azerbaijan (S), Georgia (SW)
water: Caspian Sea (E)
Highest point: Bazardyuzi Mountain (4,466 m)
Maximum N->S distance: 400 kilometers (249 mi)
Maximum E->W distance: 200 kilometers (124 mi)

Ethnic groups

The people of Dagestan include a large variety of ethnic groups. According to the 2002 Census, Northeast Caucasians (including Avars, Dargins and Lezgins) make up 75% of the population of Dagestan. Kumyks and Nogais make up 16%, Russians 5% and Azeris 4%. Other ethnic groups each account for less than 0.5% of the total population. With such ethnic diversity, 90.4% of the population are Muslims.There are also forty or so tiny groups such as the Hinukh, numbering 200, or the Akhwakh, who are members of a complex family of indigenous Caucasians. Notable are also the Hunzib or Khunzal people who live in only four towns in the interior.

The lingua franca in Dagestan is Russian. Over thirty local languages are also commonly spoken.

History Of Dagestan

The oldest records about the region refer to the state of Caucasian Albania in the south, with its capital at Derbent and other important centres at Chola, Toprakh Qala, and Urtseki. The northern parts were held by a confederation of pagan tribes. In the first few centuries AD, Caucasian Albania continued to rule over what is present day Azerbaijan and the area occupied by the present day Lezghians. It was fought over in classical times by Rome and the Persian Sassanids and was early converted to Christianity.

In the fifth century AD, the Sassanids gained the upper hand and 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 Eurasian Avars. It is not clear whether the latter were instrumental in the rise of the Christian kingdom in Central Dagestan highlands. Known as Sarir, this Avar-dominated state maintained a precarious existence in the shadow of Khazaria and the Caliphate until the ninth century, when it managed to assert its supremacy in the region.

In 664, the Persians were succeeded in Derbent by the Arabs who clashed with the Khazars over control of Dagestan. Although the local population rose against the Arabs of Derbent in 905 and 913, Islam was eventually adopted in urban centres, such as Samandar and Kubachi (Zerechgeran), from where it steadily penetrated into the highlands. By the 15th century, Albanian Christianity had died away, leaving a tenth-century church at Datuna as the sole monument to its existence.

Due to Muslim pressure and internal disunity, Sarir disintegrated in the early twelfth century, giving way to the Khanate of Avaristan, a long-lived Muslim state which relied on the alliance with the Golden Horde and braved the devastating Mongol invasions of 1222 and 1239, followed by Tamerlane's raid in 1389.

As the Mongol authority gradually eroded, new centres of power emerged in Kaitagi and Tarki. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, legal traditions were codified, mountainous communities (djamaats) obtained a considerable degree of autonomy, while the Kumyk potentates (shamhals) asked for the Tsar's protection. Russians intensified their hold in the region in the eighteenth century, when Peter the Great annexed maritime Dagestan in the course of the First Russo-Persian War. Although the territories were returned to Persia in 1735, the next bout of hostilities resulted in the Russian capture of Derbent in 1796.

The eighteenth century also saw the resurgence of the Khanate of Avaristan, which managed to repulse the attacks of Nadir Shah of Persia and impose tribute on Shirvan and Georgia. In 1803 the khanate voluntarily submitted to Russian authority, but it took Persia a decade to recognize all of Dagestan as the Russian possession (Treaty of Gulistan).

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 (including Makhachkala), electrified highlanders into rising under the aegis of the radical Muslim Imamate of Dagestan, led by Ghazi Mohammed (1828-32), Gamzat-bek (1832-34) and Shamil (1834-59). This Caucasian War raged until 1864, when Shamil was captured and the Khanate of Avaristan was abolished.

Dagestan and Chechnya profited from the Russo-Turkish War, 1877-1878, to rise against Imperial Russia for the last time. During the Russian Civil War, the region became part of the short-lived Republic of the Mountaineers of the North Caucasus. After more than three years of fighting White movement reactionaries and local nationalists, the Dagestan ASSR was proclaimed on 20 January 1921. Nevertheless, Stalin's industrialization largely bypassed Dagestan and the economy stagnated, making the republic the poorest region in Russia.

In 1999, a group of Muslim fundamentalists from Chechnya under Shamil Basayev, together with local converts and exiles from the 1998 uprising attempt, staged an abortive insurrection in Dagestan in which hundreds of combatants and civilians died. Russian forces subsequently reinvaded Chechnya later that year.

Economy

The village of Tindi, in Daghestan, in the late 1890s. The photograph was taken by M. de Déchy, who returned from the area with large collections of plants, fossils, and photographs.

As of 2000, the economy of Dagestan consisted of the following sectors:
24% industry
35% agriculture
26% construction
9% Trade and services
5% Transport and communications
1% Other sectors

Important industries include food processing, power generation, oil drilling, machine building, chemicals, and instrument making. Dagestan's major exports are oil and fuel. Important agricultural products include fish from the Caspian Sea, wine and brandy, and various garden fruits.

Dagestan has economic cooperation with Iran.

Dagestan continues to be the least urbanized republic in the Caucasus

Religion

93% percent of Dagestan's population is Muslim, with Christians accounting for the remaining 7%.

As with much of the Caucasus region, Dagestan's native Islam consists of Sufi orders that have been in place for centuries. Resul Magomedov, who is a contemporary writer of Daghestan, writes about Islamic contribution to themselves; “Before Islam, all Daghestan tribes were broke off in respect of language, religion, ethnic structure and geography like all other Caucasian peoples. This situation caused severe hostility and conflicts. After all native tribes became Muslims, a unity in belief could be sustained among Daghestan tribes which also stopped ethnic conflicts among them. If these conflicts continued, our homeland would face great disasters. This unity could only be established by medressehs spread out all the country. The scientists, scholars, imams graduated from these medressehs had an important role in stopping these conflicts in this multinational region and they helped tribes to establish friendly relations. Islam should also serve such a goal today.”

There is a millennia-old presence of a Jewish community, the "Mountain Jews," in Dagestan. Their influx from Babylonia and Persia occurred from the seventh century B.C. to the sixth century A.D.

References:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dagestan

Avar language

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The modern Avar language (self-designation магӀарул мацӀ [maʕarul maʦʼ] "language of the mountains" or Авар мацӀ [awar maʦʼ] "Avar language") belongs to the Avar-Andi-Tsez subgroup of the Alarodian Northeast-Caucasian (or Nakh-Dagestani) language family.
Geographic distribution

It is spoken mainly in the eastern and southern parts of the Russian Caucasus republic of Dagestan, and the Balaken, Zakatala north-west region of Azerbaijan. Some population of Avars live in other regions of Russia. There are also small communities of speakers living in the Russian republics of Chechnya and Kalmykia; in Georgia, Kazakhstan, Jordan, and the Marmara Sea region of Turkey. It has more than 1,400,000 speakers worldwide.

Official status

It is one of six literary languages of Dagestan, where it is spoken not only by Avars, but also serves as the language of communication between different groups.

Dialects

There are two main dialect groups: the northern (Avar literature), which includes Khunzakh, Kazbek, Gunib, Gumbet and others; and the southern (sub dialects), which includes Andalal, Gidatl', Antsukh, Charoda, Tlyarata, Cumada, Cunta and others. Avar has fifteen spoken dialects, which by many linguists are considered separate languages: Avar, Bagulal, Chamalal, Budukh, Botlikh, Andi, Godoberi, Tindi, Karati, Akhvakh, Tsez (also known as Dido), Khwarshi, Hinukh, Hunzib and Bezhta, each named after its speaking tribe.

Writing system

The Avar language has been written since the 15th century, in the old Georgian alphabet. From the 17th century onwards it was written in a modified Arabic script known as Ajam, which is still known today. As part of Soviet language planning policies the Ajam was replaced by a Latin alphabet in 1928, which was in turn replaced by the current Cyrillic alphabet in 1938. It is essentially the Russian alphabet plus one additional letter named palochka (Ӏ). As that letter is undisplayable on most computers, it is routinely replaced with capital Latin letter I (palochka has no uppercase form).

OrthographyА а Б б В в Г г Гъ гъ Гь гь ГI гI Д д
Е е Ё ё Ж ж З з И и Й й К к Къ къ
Кь кь КI кI КIкI кIкI Кк кк Л л М м Н н О о
П п Р р С с Т т ТI тI У у Ф ф Х х
Хх хх Хъ хъ Хь хь ХI хI Ц ц Цц цц ЦI цI ЦIцI цIцI
Ч ч ЧI чI ЧIчI чIчI Ш ш Щ щ Ъ ъ Ы ы Ь ь
Э э Ю ю Я я

History

The literary language is based on the болмацӀ (bolmacʼ) — bo = "army" or "country", and macʼ = "language" — the common language used between speakers of different dialects and languages. The bolmacʼ in turn was mainly derived from the dialect of Khunzakh, the capital and cultural centre of the Avar region, with some influence from the southern dialects. Nowadays the literary language is influencing the dialects, levelling out their differences.

The most famous figure of modern Avar literature is Rasul Gamzatov (died November 3, 2003), the People's Poet of Dagestan. Translations of his works into Russian have gained him a wide audience all over the former Soviet Union.

Samples
Hello! ВорчӀами! Worčʼami!
How do you do? Щиб хӀal бугеб? Ššib ħal bugeb?
What is your name? Дуда цӀар щиб? Duda cʼar ššib?
How old are you? Чан сон дур бугеб? Čan son dur bugeb?
Where are you going? Киве мун унев вугев? Kiwe mun unew wugew?
Sorry! ТӀаса лъугьа! Tʼasa łuha!
The bottle broke. Васас шиша бекана. Wasas šiša bekana.

References: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avar_language

Where comes Nurmagomedov's?

2007-12-11T14:11:00.001+02:00

Nurmagomedov's are Akhvakh's. A group of Caucasian Avars (Maarulaw). Karata its their village which is the center of Akhvakh Avars. Akhvakh's have their own language. They speaking Akhakh language with each other. And there is a common language which all Avars speak.

Caucasian Avars are a modern people of Caucasus, mainly of Dagestan, in which they are the predominant group. The Caucasian Avar language belongs to the Northeast Caucasian language family (also known as Nakh-Dagestanian).

They populate most of the mountain part of Dagestan, and partly also plains (Buynakskiy, Khasav'yurtovskiy and other regions). They also live in Chechnya, Kalmykia and other subjects of Russia, as well as Azerbaijan (mainly, the Balakan and Zagatala regions), Georgia (Kvareli Avars) and Turkey.

In 2002, the Avars, who assimilated some peoples speaking related languages, numbered about 800,000, of which 757,000 live in Russia and more than 700,000 in Dagestan. 32% of them live in the cities (2001 number).

According to the head of the Soviet archaeological-ethnographic expedition of 1945 - 1948, Caucasian Avars migrated to their present location from Khwarezm, which was originally populated by the Alarodian Hurrians from Subartu (which was to the south of Transcaucasian Iberia)[1]. The earliest mention of the Avars in European History at their current location is from Priscus who declares that in 463 AD a mixed Saragur, Urog and Unogur embassy asked Byzantium for an alliance having been dislodged by Sabirs in 461 due to the Avars' drive towards the west[2]. It is not clear whether and in what way the contemporary Avars are related to these early Eurasian Avars of the Dark Ages. According to Omeljan Pritsak and some other scholars, this Avar invasion of the Caucasus resulted in the establishment of the Avar ruling dynasty in Sarir, a Christian state in Dagestani Highlands, where the Caucasian Avars now live. With the mediation of Sarosios in 567, the Göktürks requested Byzantium to distinguish the Avars of Pannonia as "Pseudo-Avars" as opposed to the true Avars of the east who had come under the Göktürk hegemony.

During the Khazar wars against the Caliphate in the 7th century, the Avars sided with Khazaria. Surakat, is mentioned as their Khagan around 729/30 AD followed by Andunik-Nutsal, at the time of Abu Muslima, then Dugry-Nutsal. Sarir suffered a partial eclipse after the Arabs gained the upper hand, but managed to reassert its influence in the region in the 9th century, when it conflicted with the weakened Khazars and conducted a friendly policy towards the neighbouring Christian states of Georgia and Alania.

In the early 12th century Sarir disintegrated, only to be succeeded by the Khanate of Avaristan, a predominantly Muslim polity. The only extant monument of Sarir architecture is a 10th-century church at the village of Datuna. The Mongol invasions seem not to have affected the Avar territory and the alliance with the Golden Horde enabled the Avar khans to increase their prosperity.

The 15th century saw the decline of the Horde and the rise of the Kumyk shamkhalate at Tarki, with whom the Avars could not compete until the 18th century, when they increased their prestige by routing the army of Nadir Shah at Andalal. In the wake of this triumph, Umma Khan of the Avars (reigned 1774-1801) managed to exact tribute from most states of the Caucasus, including Shirvan and Georgia.

Two years after Umma Khan's death in 1801, the khanate voluntarily submitted to Russian authority. Yet the Russian administration disappointed and embittered freedom-loving highlanders. The institution of heavy taxation, coupled with the expropriation of estates and the construction of fortresses, electrified the Avar population into rising under the aegis of the radical Muslim Imamate of Dagestan, led by Ghazi Mohammed (1828-32), Gamzat-bek (1832-34) and Shamil (1834-59).

This Caucasian War raged until 1864, when the Avarian Khanate was abolished and the Avarian District was instituted instead. One portion of the Avars refused to collaborate with Russians and migrated to Turkey, where their descendants live to this day. Although the population was decimated through war and emigration, the Avars retained their position as the dominant ethnic group in Dagestan during the Soviet period. After World War II, many Avars left the barren highlands for the fertile plains closer to the Caspian shore.

Famous Avars

The most prominent figures in Avar history were Umma Khan, Hadji Murat, and Imam Shamil. The most celebrated poet writing in the Avar language was Rasul Gamzatov (1923-2003). In Azerbaijan, there is an ethnic Avar Member of the Parliament (MP), Mrs. Rabiyat Aslanova (first term: 2000-2005, second term: 2005-2010).

Famous Avar artists include Khalil-bek Musayasul, whose drawings were shown at the New York Metropolitan Museum[citation needed], and Kamil Aliev (a distant cousin of Musayasul[citation needed]) who is noted for his ornamental carpet work[4].

A famous Avar Sportstar is Magomed "The Propeller" Magomedov. Born June 4, 1982 he is a Thaiboxer and the WMC Light Heavyweight World Muay Thai champion. Another famous sportsman of Avar origin is a heavy-weight boxer Sultan Ibragimov, a current WBO champion.

References: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caucasian_Avars