Lezgins

Lezgi
Лезгияр

Regions with significant populations
Russia:   412,000 (2002 census)[1] Azerbaijan:   178,000 (1999 census)[2]
Languages
Lezgian, Azerbaijani, Russian
Religion
Sunni Islam, Shi'a minority

The Lezgins (other spellings Lezgin, Lezgi, Lezgis, Lezgs, and Lezgians) (Lezgian: лезгияр, Azerbaijani: ləzgilər, Russian: лезгины) are an ethnic group, living predominantly in southern Dagestan and north-eastern Azerbaijan, who speak the Lezgian language.

In the 19th century, the term was used more broadly for all ethnic groups speaking Northeast Caucasian languages, including Avars, Laks, and many others.

Today, the Lezgins are predominately Sunni Muslims, with a Shi'a minority.

Lezgins live mainly in Azerbaijan and in the Russian Federation (Dagestan). The Lezgin's total population is believed to be around 600,000, with 412,000 living in Russian Federation, and 178,000 in Azerbaijan. Another 100,000 live in Eastern Europe, the Middle-east and the United States.

See also

• Lezgi language
• Suleyman Kerimov
• Gotfrid Hasanov

External links

• Sharvili Lezgi site
• Shax-dag Lezgi site
• Lezgi site by Peter Kozlovsky
• Lezgi ch'al
• Lezgi mp3
• Lezgi in Azerbaijan
• Lezgi National Electronic Library - Ulub.info
• Lezgi pages by Gabil Kelbikhan: lezgi-russian dictionary, maps, lezgi calendar, lezgi tales
• The Lezgin people on Azerb.com
• Article from the Centre for Russian Studies about the Lezgin
• News: The holiday of Lezghi national heroic epos "Sharvili" in the Akhty