Ethnic groups of Russia: Abazins

They are one of the oldest ethnic groups of the Caucasus. Their historical homeland encompasses the territories of Abkhazia and Krasnodar Krai, though, today, the Abazins primarily reside in the Karachay-Cherkess Republic. Their population in Russia numbers around 43,000 and there are also significant diaspora communities in Turkey and Egypt.

The Abazin language belongs to the Abkhaz-Adyghe language group and is considered one of the most complex in the world. It has more than 60 consonants, but only two vowel sounds. Sibilants, fricatives, labialized sounds and guttural sounds are extremely difficult to pronounce for anyone who did not grow up in this linguistic environment.

The Abazins’ main traditional occupations were livestock farming, beekeeping and blacksmithing. Horse breeding was typically the domain of nobility; for instance, the now-extinct Tramov horse breed was developed by the princely Tramov family. It was highly prized, both within the Caucasus and beyond.

One of the signature national dishes of Abazin cuisine is ‘ktu dzyrdza’ – boiled chicken or turkey served with a piquant, spicy sauce. It’s usually served with ‘basta’, a thick corn porridge, as a side dish. For dessert, they eat ‘kapron’ – thin strips of dough fried in oil and dusted with powdered sugar.