Armenians in Russia or Russian Armenians are ethnic Armenians who live in Russia. The 2002 Russian census recorded 1,130,491 Armenians in the country, but most probably did not take into account the Armenian guest workers, most of whom do not hold Russian citizenship. Various figures estimate that the Armenian population actually exceeds 2,900,000.
Regardless, Russia possesses the largest Armenian population outside of Armenia proper, making it home of the largest community in the Armenian diaspora.
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (May 2011)
Armenians in Saint Petersburg
In 1708 the first Armenians came to St. Petersburg, and in 1710 in the city already existed “Armenian offices”. In 1730, under the leadership of the priest Ivan Sheristanova organized the first parish of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
Throughout the 20th century Armenian population of St. Petersburg has been steadily increasing.
Armenians in Saint Petersburg by years:
According to Soviet 1989 census 47% Armenians speak Armenian as native language, 52% speak Russian as native language. At the same time almost all fluent in Russian language. About half of the Armenians have higher education and, consequently, higher social status.[8]
Krasnodar Krai[9]
Armenian diaspora of Krasnodar Krai is one of the biggest communities of the Armenian diaspora. According to Russian 2002 census there are 274,566 Armenians (141,501 male and 133,065 female). 211,397 of them speak Armenian as native language and 6,948 had Armenian citizenship.
In an earlier census in 1989, the Krasnodar Territory was home to over 182 thousand Armenians (34,2% of the total number of Armenians in the RSFSR). In the period between the censuses of 1989 and 2002, Armenians became the second largest after the Russian ethnic community in Krasnodar Territory (after being third to the Ukrainians).
The old settlements:
Cherkesogai;
Hamshenis;
Khemshils;
Resettlement group:
Armenians displaced from Abkhazia (descendants of the old residents groups Hamshen Armenians living mainly in the Sochi district), characterized by the presence of long direct contacts with the Armenians in the Russian territory, the similarity of occupations, values and language identity, that most facilitated their adaptation to new social environment;
Refugees and displaced persons from Azerbaijan (including the Nagorno-Karabakh, which for many refugees and migrants has become a kind of transit point), divided by geography on the outcome of Baku residents, Sumgait residents, Kirovabad residnets and others;
Migrants from Georgia - from Akhalkalaki, Bogdanov (Frangi, Erzerumtsi) and Akhaltsikhe areas and in small amounts - from Tbilisi. Akhaltsikhe and Ninotsminda municipalities of Georgia are still some places densely populated by Armenians, including the Armenian-Catholic population (most of them were relocated there after Adrianople Peace Treaty in 1829) and in the Akhalkalaki region of the Armenian population of the ethnic majority (natives of Erzurum). In the Krasnodar Territory Akhalkalaki Armenians settled in the village of Kazan, in Gulkevichi, Kropotkin, Timashevsk;
Immigrants from Armenia, who left their homes mainly because of difficult living conditions, generated by transport, energy and trade blockade continued since the war in Karabakh, part of the Armenians - affected by the earthquake of 7 December 1988 (areas Leninakan and Spitak), adopted by local authorities in the hotels and sanatoriums Gelendzhik, Anapa, Tuapse and the city of Krasnodar;
Immigrants from Central Asia - originally came from Nagorno-Karabakh, Zangezur and Goris regions of Armenia. This group can be attributed, and refugees and displaced people in Grozny (Chechnya).
Armenian National District
Armenian National District (in Russian Армянский национальный район)-called National District in the Krasnodar region (after being known as the North Caucasus in 1925-1934 and as the Azov-Black Sea region in 1934-1937). National District was formed on March 10 1925 on the territory populated mainly by Armenians. Center of the region have been assigned the village Elisavetpol. Initially, the Armenian National District was part of the Maikop district. In 1930 county division was abolished. Since the late 1930s, the term "national district" ceased to use, and the area is simply called Армянским. From 1943 to 1946 the center of the area was the village of Chernihiv. In 1953 the area was abolished and its territory was divided between neighboring areas.
Krasnodar
In Krasnodar (in Russian Краснодар), a regional department of the Union of Armenians of Russia, Krasnodar city organization ATS Pashkovskaya Armenian community (village Pashkovskiy). Krasnodar is the center of the Diocese of Southern Russia Armenian Apostolic Church.
Novorossiysk
History of the Armenian community of Novorossiysk (in Russian Новороссийск) is rooted to the bottom of the city. One of its founders, Admiral Serebryakov (Artsatagortsyan), was of Armenian origin. The Armenian community has made a significant contribution to the development of the city in different periods of time, Armenians held senior positions here, have provided financial and material assistance, contribute to the development of business activity and etc. To date, the number of Armenians, according to the Armenian Cultural Society Luys, is about 40 thousand people.
The city has two Armenian societies: "Luys" and the Department of the Union of Armenians of Russia. A monthly newspaper "Luys" is published, also youth clubs and Sunday Armenian schools, as well as promoting the plans for a large Armenian church in the area of Mefodievki. Many Armenian businessmen are engaged in patronage and charity, funding education and construction of cultural monuments (including a monument to the founders of the city on the waterfront Serebryakov).
Sochi
The first Armenians settlers appeared in the Sochi district (Russian Сочи) in 1882. They were refugees from Turkey. Later there were several other refugee flows, especially significant relate to 1905 and during the First World War. After the Spitak earthquake, the number of Armenians in the city has also increased. At this point in the Sochi region Lazarevskom built a monument to the Armenian General Andranik Ozanyanu
Tuapse
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (May 2011)
Tuapse (in Russian ) also has an Armenian population
Armavir
Armavir (Russian: Армави́р) is a city in Krasnodar Krai, Russia, located on the left bank of the Kuban River. It should not be confused with Armavir, Armenia. Population: 208,000 (Census 2002). Armavir used to be the second biggest industrial center of Krasnodar Krai after Krasnodar. The settlement of Armavir was founded in 1839 by CherkesogaiArmenians as Armyansky aul (Армя́нский ау́л). It was renamed in 1848 in honour of the ancient capital of Armenia and was granted town status on January 18, 1914.
Armenians (mostly Christian Hamshenis) have also lived in the region since at least the 18th century.
The total number of ethnic Armenians (including the Cherkesogai and Hamsheni Armenians) is around 275,000 making them the biggest ethnic minority in Krasnodar Krai of total population of 5.125,000 (Census 2002)
History of the settlement: Most Armenians resettled in the 15th century in the Crimea, where the time was finally formed Turkish vassal the Crimean Khanate and the living conditions prevailing there once Christians (Greeks - Rumei - Armenians - Crimean Goths) deteriorated sharply. In 1475, when the Turks finally conquered the Crimea and began to exterminate the civilian population, Armenians began to migrate actively, with some of them finding refuge among the Circassians and Abkhazians. Armenians settlers lived in the mountains 300 years, adopted the language, customs, habits, peculiarities of everyday life, the whole lifestyle of the Circassians, among whom they settled, but have retained their ethnic identity and Christian faith - the Armenian Gregorian Apostolic faith. As a result of the interaction of the two cultures, a new ethnic group was formed, Cherkesogai - the Mountain Armenians. By the end of the 18th century, Islam started to spread within the Circassian population, and the Mountain Armenians came at the verge of losing the national religion. In late 1836 they turned to Major General Baron G. F. von Sasse (in Russian Григорий Христофорович Засс) asking him to "take them under Russian protection, and give them the means to resettle near Russian populations". In 1837 by decision of the Russian general, they resettled in the village Prochnookopskoy (in Russian Прочноокопской), that became a small mountain village for the Armenians.
In the 1839 settlement cherkesogaev moved closer to the mouth of the river Urup. This year is considered the official establishment date of Armavir, with the original name being Armenian village. 120 families had settled in the early years, and by 1840 their number increased. In addition Mountain Armenians, several hundred serfs Highlanders joined (in 1859 raising the population to 800). The Cherkesogai continued applying their traditional tribal rules, dividing the area into quarters.
In 1848 the settlement was officially named Armavir village in honor of the ancient Armenian capital of Armavir in Armenia. Now both cities are sister cities. In 1875 Armavir started being served with the Vladikavkaz Railway. In 1876 village got the status of the village. In 1908 the Armavir-Tuapse railroad began being constructed. On March 23 (5 April) 1914, by Council of Ministers' decisoon, the village was transformed into a city.
Anapa
Anapa (in Russian Анапа) also had Armenian population. The main area inhabited by the Armenians was Gaykodzor (in Russian, in Armenian Հայկաձոր), a large Armenian village south of Anapa, that contains an Armenian church and an Armenian cultural center Arin Berd etc.
Gelendzhik
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (May 2011)
In 1778, Catherine the Great invited Armenian merchants from the Crimea to Russia. After moving to the area, they established a settlement on the Don, which they named "Nor Nakhichevan", after one of the ancient areas of Armenia, Nakhichevan. In 1928 Nor Nakhichevan was merged with Rostov-on-Don.
