Flags of Daghestanian ethnic groups (Russia) (original) (raw)


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Last modified: 2025-03-29 by rob raeside
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Presentation of Daghestanian ethnic groups

In Dagestan live about 35 different ethnic groups. Some of these peoples have their own flags.
António Martins, Nov 1998

Flag of the Agul people

Flag of Agul peopleimage located by Jason Saber, 01 February 2015

Wikipedia now includes a flag for the Aghuls, a nation located in Dagestan. See this link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aghul_people.
Jason Saber, 01 February 2015

Image source ishttp://www.vexillographia.ru/russia/minority.htm, See -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Aghul_flag.svg
Victor Lomantsov, 02 February 2015

Flag of the Avar people

Flag of Avar peoplefrom Wikipedia, 10 September 2008

Yet another nation of Dagestan (and Azerbaijan), this time the largest one - the Avars. Their complicated history, both medieval and modern, is presented at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caucasian_AvarsThey total slightly over million people (together with absorbed, related nationalities like Andis, Akhvakhs, Botligs, Godoberis, Bagulals, Karatas, Tindis, Chamalals (all considered Avars), the Dido group, which includes Didos, Khwarshia, Bezhetas, Khunzals and Ginugs and, not so closely related, but belonging to the proto-Avar tribes - the Archis). About 815,000 Avars live in Russia (750,000 in Dagestan, the rest in Chechnia, Kalmykia, Moscow and elsewhere) About 160,000 live in Azerbaijan, 45,000 in Turkey and 2,500 in Georgia. Smaller communities can be found in Jordan, Germany and the U.S. They are overwhelmingly Sunni Moslems. Majority adhere to the Shafi rite. Their language belongs to Nakh-Dagestan branch of the Caucasian languages. Khunzakh dialect serves as lingua franca and is a foundation for the Avar literary language written in modified cyrillic script since 1938 (from 1927 to 1938 it was written in latin script, and before that in arabic) The town of Khunzakh is a cultural center of Avaristan and serves as an unofficial capital of the Avars. Although the Avaristan (the Avar homeland) has no official status, the nationalistic feelings of the Avars are strong and on the rise.

Recently, the modern version of the old Avarian Khaganate flag, white wolf of the Huns on black, is gaining an acceptance as the national flag of the Avars and of Avaristan. Original old flag is on display at the Central Museum in Makhachkala. The modern flag shows the white wolf holding a banner with swastika and looking backward toward the crescent moon. It is framed in yellow. The Avar swastika is a common symbol there since ancient times. Called "sswerdiro" in Avar language, it means: "Power to Destroy - Power to Create: Power of God".
Chrystian Kretowicz, 21 May 2008

Our Latvian colleague, Ilmars Bite, just posted on RussoVex the best yet image of the alleged flag of the Avars. This image differs from the one which I ( and Avar Khunz) reported earlier, by the inclusion of the representation of the stylized mountain range at the bottom of the flag, as seen on the photo of the flag maintained by the museum in Makhachkala.
Chrystian Kretowicz, 10 September 2008

Flag of the Dido (Tsezy) people

Flag of Dido people image by Chrystian Kretowicz, 21 August 2011

Let me share with you the flag of a small ethnic group in Dagestan - Dido (Tsezy). More info on them at:http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1731544948231&set=a.1717351273398.69807.1826737355&type=1&theater
Chrystian Kretowicz, 21 August 2011

Flag of the Kaitag people

Flag of Kaitag people image by_M�h�mad_, 24 February 2025

Recently I've been leading the flag design efforts for the Kaitag people. I had very fruitful assistance from the incredible folk at NAVA and had the honor to present the design at one of their design forums. Our community is working on manufacturing it.

The flag of the Kaitag people is a blue cloth with a white seal in the center. The stylized Kufic monogram from the pantheon of Utsmiys - the rulers of Kaitag - symbolizes centuries-old statehood. Its four parts represent the Kaitag judicial districts: Kara-Kaitag, Irchamul, Shurkant and Kattagan.
A little higher and to the right is a white four-leaf madder flower, a reminder of the hope and fortitude of the people who, being at the epicenter of historical events, defended themselves and found the strength to move forward.
Deep blue is the traditional background of Kaitag embroidery, combining the pursuit of knowledge of the future and the preservation of the heritage of the past.
The proportions of the flag are 2:3. The background color is PMS 7685 C (#2C5697).

M�h�mad, 24 February 2025

Swallowtail flag

Flag of Kaitag people image by_M�h�mad_, 24 February 2025

Construction sheet

Flag of Kaitag people image by_M�h�mad_, 24 February 2025

Flags of the Kumyk people

Flag of Kumukh peopleimage by António Martins, 08 January 2003, fromcpekacar.sitemynet.com/anadagkum.htm

I’ve just seen on the French-German cultural TV channel Arte a documentary about Dagestan, in which the flag of nationalist movement of Kumukh people was shown (interview of its leader, with a big flag on the wall and a table flag in front of him). The emblem on the flag is white outlined black; the three “beasts” are linked together (as in the emblem of Isle of Man), and the circle in the center is is the border of zone where the three beasts join in one. In the center of the circle, crescent and star, white outlined black.
Olivier Touzeau, 16 March 2000

On cpekacar.sitemynet.com/anadagkum.htm, there are pics of Kumukh Arms, which are actually the flag with somewhatdifferent colors from this one.
Michael K. Renalds, 01 July 2002

I believe that several patterns exist; the basic design is what all people agree.
Jaume Ollé, 22 November 2002

Green bottom stripe

White emblem

Flag of Kumukh peopleimage by Jaume Ollé, 28 October 1996, and António Martins, 11 November 2002

Yellow emblem

Flag of Kumukh peopleimage by Jaume Ollé, 28 October 1996

This image is from _Gaceta de Banderas_[gdb], information of Michel Lupant.
Jaume Ollé, 22 November 2002

Yet another variant

Flag of Kumukh peopleimage by Victor Lomantsov, 23 September 2006

I remade the image according photo of real flag received from Khadzhy Bayram Bolat (Turkey). Order of stripes is different. The flag is used by Kumyk people in Dagestan and Kumyk diaspora in Turkey.
Victor Lomantsov, 23 August 2006

Flag of the Lak people

Flag of Lak peopleimage by Chrystian Kretowicz, 5 March 2008

Lakku Bilayat - Zeml'ya Laktsev - Land of the Laks

Yet another nation within multi-ethnic Dagestan. They are native to the region. Live in the mountains of central Dagestan in Lakskiy and Kulinskiy Rayons. Some were moved to the lowlands in 1944 to replace the deported Dagestani Chechens.
Their language belongs to the Nakh-Dagestan group of the North Caucasian linguistic family. They number ca.157,000 (140,000 in Dagestan). Sunni Muslims
Capital in the village of Kumukh.
Chrystian Kretowicz, 5 March 2008

Flag of the Lezgi people

Flag of Lezgi peopleimage by_Ruslan Baymashev_, 12 July 2015

Lezgi (Lezgian, Lezghi, Lezgin, Kiurinsty) [LEZ] 257,000 in Russia (1996); 171,400 in Azerbaijan (1996); 3,650 in Georgia; 2,570 in Kazakhstan; 1,599 in Kyrghyzstan; 10,400 in Turkmenistan; 1,708 in Ukraine; 1,585 in Uzbekistan; 1,200 in Turkey (1996); 451,000 in all countries. Southern Dagestan ASSR, the western Caspian Sea coast, central Caucasus. North Caucasian, Northeast, Lezgian. Dialects: Kiuri, Akhty, Kuba, Gjunej, Garkin, Anyx, Stal. Has literary status based on the Kiuri dialect. Cyrillic alphabet. Some dialects are reported to not be inherently intelligible with other. Mountain slope. Agriculturalists. Sunni and some Shi’a Muslim.
Jarig Bakker, 07 October 1999, quoting from theEthnologue database

Lezghistan (or Lezgia) is the southernmost tip of Russia, included in the multi-ethnic republic ofDaghestan. Its does include also some neighbouring territory ofAzerbaijan
António Martins, 10 August 1999

This is flag use Lezgi people and Lezgic (Tabasaran, Aghul, Rutul, Archi and other Lezgic group). This is flag name is "Lezgi flag" ore "Caucasian Albanian flag"
Ruslan Baymashev, 12 July 2015

Previously Reported Flag

Flag of Lezgi peopleimage by Jaume Ollé, 26 April 1999

Accordin Aliev Saumur this flag want to be:

  1. National (Republic of Lezgistan)
  2. Ethnic (Lezgin people)
  3. Party (Savdal = Union) Jaume Ollé, 09 October 1999

It is not Lezghian flag! I am from Dagestan. Please remove this flag. Not seeing misleading people and do not insult people Lezghian.
Ruslan Baymashev, 02 June 2015

This one needs some more digging - from a very brief look at the internet, the symbolism of the flag is clearly used by the Lezgi.
Rob Raeside, 02 June 2015

Flag of the Mountain Jews of Dagestan

Flag of Tabasaran people image located by William Garrison, 18 November 2023

Possible flag of the "Mountain Jews of Dagestan (Russia); c. Nov. 2, 2023. On Oct. 29, 2023, a mob in Russia's mostly Muslim region of Dagestan stormed the airport in Makhachkala in search of Jewish passengers arriving from Israel. They also searched local hotels to hunt for Jews and Israelis, and also attacked the local synagogue.

Source:https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/
William Garrison, 18 November 2023

Flag of the Nogai people

Flag of Nogai peopleimage by Jaume Ollé, 28 October 1996

The beast portrayed, flying lion with dog’s head, sure fits the description ofChelyabinsk/Bashkir simargl— and though Daghestan (where the Nogai dwell) is some 1500 km SW of Chelyabinsk region, there may be a connection, as both Nogay and Bashkir (the second largest ethnical group in Chelyabinsk region, after the Russians) are(western) turkic(slim connection, shared with eight otherpeoples of the Russian Federation, but who knows…).
António Martins, 26 December 2002

Flag of the Tabasaran people

Flag of Tabasaran peopleimage by Chrystian Kretowicz, 16 February 2009

One of many Dagestani nationalities, Tabasaran number over 13,000 and live in the mountains in southeast Dagestan. They are second largest (after Lezgins) group of Lezgi-Samur linguistic community. Their neighbors are: Dargwas(north), Lezgins(south), Aguls(west) and Azerbaijanis(east).

The flag and emblem were adopted in 2006.
Chrystian Kretowicz, 28 February 2008

The flag of Tabasaran is a Dagestani flag with the Tabasaran emblem in the middle
Chrystian Kretowicz, 16 February 2009

Other proposed flags of the Tabasaran people

Flag of Tabasaran people image by Olivier Touzeau, 17 April 2023 and Tomislav Todorovic, 15 May 2023
based on image located by Jason Saber, 17 April 2023

This photo was posted on Facebook, described as the Tabasaran flag.
Jason Saber, 17 April 2023

According to this page:https://zoritabasarana.ru/rubriki/gazeta/item/15170-vyberem-natsionalnyj-flag-tabasaranathis flag was one of the 5 proposals submitted to the choice of Tabasaran people in 2020.

"Over the past 5-6 years, voting on the choice of the national flag of Tabasaran took place in several stages at different venues. In particular, in the social network VKontakte in the groups "Tabasarans | Tabasaran Today", "ARHAVAL", "Tabasarans | Juvandar", "Tabasaran" and others; in the social network Instagram in the groups tabasaran_obshina, tabasaran_vilayat and others; on the social network Facebook in the groups “Tabasaranar”, “Tabasaran”, “Tabasaran - yiz Vatan”, etc. Voting on the social network Facebook was also covered on the pages of the newspaper “Tabasarandin nurar” (September, November 2017, January 2020). As a result, users of each social network chose their own flags, and today we do not have a single common Tabasaran flag. In order to positively resolve the issue once and for all, to make a correct and fair decision, today all these groups TOGETHER put forward the flag they have chosen for the final (FINAL) vote. So, on May 1, with the support of the Tabasaran Foundation and the Tabasarandin Nurar newspaper, the final vote on the choice of the Tabasaran flag will start at 20:00 on the social networks VKontakte, Instagram and Facebook. Voting will end on May 30 at 20:00. Voting will take place on the pages of the TABASARAN FOUNDATION".

I have not found the result of this competition.

The green-blue-red flag shown above has the emblem of Tabaranskiy rayon (https://mr-tabasaran.ru) on the colours of the Daghestan flag. I have some doubts about its actual existence, and it is probaby not the ethnic flag of Tabasaran people.

Flag of Tabasaran people image by Olivier Touzeau, 17 April 2023

One of the most often seen "candidates" on the internet is this red-green-red flag.
According tohttps://md-gazeta.ru/news/82084:

"Before the end of 2020, Tabasarans, representatives of one of the nationalities of Dagestan, will choose their national flag. The main sketch has already been selected, but its discussion has been extended until the end of this year. The competition for the sketch of the flag was announced in social networks in September 2017. Out of more than two dozen sketches, two were selected by voting, and at the second stage - the main one. The flag is a rectangular panel, executed in three colors - red, green and golden (yellow). Two red fortress walls are separated by a green stripe with three golden stars placed vertically under each other at an equal distance. The red fortress walls symbolize the strength of the spirit of the heroic defenders of Tabasaran, the blood shed in the fight against the conquerors. The teeth of the fortress walls on the flag - 12 on each side - symbolize 24 societies of medieval Tabasaran, and the fortress wall itself - their unity. Green is the color of Islam. Three golden stars on a green background - three historical parts of the once unified Tabasaran before its collapse at the end of the 16th century as a result of an internecine war. The yellow (golden) color of the stars on the flag and the outline of the fortress walls are a symbol of fertility (abundance, prosperity) of the Tabasaran land."

The authors of the sketch are the moderators of the Tabasaran People's Website and the Tabasaranar Facebook group Gulmagomed Rasulov and Mazan Rashidov. But for final recognition, this option must go through a nationwide discussion. “The final results of the competition will be summed up at the end of this year,” Gyulahmed Mallaliev, editor-in-chief of Zori Tabasaran, told to Molodezhka Gazeta.

The flag sent by Jason could be seen in 2020 on the facebook group: Информационный блог" (see https://www.facebook.com/tabasaranar)
Olivier Touzeau, 17 April 2023