Meltha Magazine Online

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1996, Volume 2, No2(6), pages 9-10

Part II. Original Essays:

Assyrians in the Russian Latter-Day Ethnography

Assyriology has always been in the focus of the Russian exploration of Eastern cultures. In addition to a multitude of philosophical, ethnic, social, cultural, political and many other aspects of life in Ancient Assyria and Babylonia, since late 19th c. there has been a steady interest in working out a scientific approach to define contemporary Assyrians in terms of their ethnic and cultural status, national identity, the modern language and dialects as well. Needless to say that this particular interest was mainly aroused due to the fundamental works by Russian Assyrian scholars like Professor Konstantin Matveyev and Assistant Professor Lev Sargizov.

Above all, we must mention Academician Konstantin Tsereteli who made a contribution to the modern Assyriology by writing a number of very profound works, which gained him world recognition.

Over the past several years, there have been attempts to define Assyrians in the Soviet Union, for instance, S.S. Savokul's article ' Assyrians in the Kuban region in the light of their ethnic and cultural life', or the book 'The ethnic and cultural processes in the 'Melting Pot' environment', M., 1989, pp133-166, or the essay by V.N. Titov entitled as 'The ethno cultural characteristics of Moscow Assyrians. Results of the ethno sociological poll' were published in the journal 'Ethnographic review', 1992, no.5, pp47-54. In his work V .N. Titov tried to define factors of Assyrian self-identification in a major industrial urban environment. His findings were based on the polls taken with 72 Assyrian Muscovites. The findings revealed a certain correlation between cultural assimilation and preservation of the Assyrian ethnic nature.

Among the first ethnographic investigations on Russia that highlight the problem of contemporary Assyrians the most notable are the work by R.I. Termen entitled as 'Report on a journey to the Hakkiari mountains, the Van region in 1906', that came out of print in Tiflis in 1910, and the work by E. A. Lalayan entitled as' Aissors of the Van region', published in the Notes of the Caucasian branch of the Russian Emperor's Geographic Society (Tiflis, 1914, vol. 28, issue 4, p40). The book by E. Lalayan seems to offer a mere description that only gives the reader an insight into the Assyrian mode of life in Hakkiari. Besides, the authors seem to be rather opinionated in terms of Assyrian life. It probably can be explained by the lack of experience in working with the subject under consideration. Especially it is evident in Lalayan' s somewhat wrong conception of ethnos in general. In contrast, R. Termen ' s report is an analytical compilation of materials made by a professional politician (the author was a longtime Russian vice consul in the Van region): His ethnographic essays on this region were purposely conceived with a view to the forthcoming conflict between Russia and Turkey. These analytical essays were highly instrumental in bringing Assyrian, Armenian and Kurdish squads over to the Russian side in its military conflict with Ottoman Empire.

The fall of USSR has brought about an upsurge of national identity of many nations and minorities, which inhabited this huge country activating ethnological and ethno- graphic processes. The most consistent and systematic approach to the problem of 'Soviet' Assyrians can be found in the works by young Russian scholar Sergei Mikhailov, a scientific worker from the institute of ethnology and anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Above all, there is good evidence of a very high quality of the works mentioned earlier as well as 'Fonnation of the Assyrian Community in Moscow in 1918 till early 1920s' (from the 'Ethnographic Review', 1995, no.4, pp137- 144), where the author largely used archives and results of some random polls as well. He identified tribal and habitual territories of the first Assyrian refugees who came to Moscow in early 1920s as well as their initial locality in his work 'Assyrians in Central Russia' (from the 'Ethnographic Review', 1996, no.1, pp73-80) the author surveyed Assyrian tribal and cultural roots as well as he analyzed the latter-day Assyrian situation in Central Russia. A more overall analysis of Assyrians who inhabit the former USSR territory is to be found in the work by S. Mikhailov ' Assyrians in CIS countries' (the 'Vostok' journal, no.1, ppIOI-IO5). During the expedition in Krasnodar region in the summer of 1995 the author prepared and published a very important document which has a meaning in terms of ethnographic, political and sociological aspects of Assyrian 'life in Russia. It is document no.93 'On the Assyrian settlers in Krasnodar region' which was published in the series 'Studies in applied and urgent ethnology' undertaken at the institute of ethnology and anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (M., 1996, ppl-20). This document gives full realistic coverage of the problem of the new Assyrian refugees.

The essays by S. Mikhailov in the issues of the 'New Babylon' journal are to be mentioned above all. Unlike in his previous scientific works the author shows up his genuine attitude and sympathy for the subject and his deep concern for the future of this 'historic' nation.

Below there is an excerpt from R. Termen ' s 200-page book as well as the essays by E. A. Lalayan and S. Mikhailov which taken altogether will cover the 80-year old experience in the ethnographic study of Assyrians in the modern Russia.

S. Osipov