Lezgistan or Lekia ( lez, Леӄи ') may refer to the following: *a term occasionally applied to describe the present-day Kurdamir, before the Russian Revolution (1917), Russian Revolution. *an irredentist concept by a Sadval movement, Sadval separatist organisation which aims to create a unified ethno-political entity in the bordering Lezgian people, Lezgin-inhabited areas of the Russian Federation, Russian Republic of Dagestan and Azerbaijan.

Historical concept

While ancient Greek historians, including Herodotus, Strabo, and Pliny the Elder, referred to ''Legoi'' people who inhabited Caucasian Albania, Arab historians of 9-10th centuries mention the kingdom of Lakz in present-day southern Dagestan. Al Masoudi referred to inhabitants of this area as Lakzams (Lezgins), who defended Shirvanshah, Shirvan against invaders from the north. Prior to the Russian Revolution (1917), Russian Revolution, "Lezgin" was a term applied to all ethnic groups inhabiting the present-day Russian Republic of Dagestan.

Political concept

The Lezgin National Movement, "Sadval movement, Sadval" (Unity) was established in July 1990 in Derbent, Dagestan, Russia (then Soviet Union).Minorities at Risk Project, Chronology for Lezgins in Russia, 2004
(accessed 21 September 2011) They demanded the unification of the Lezgin people (in Azerbaijan and Dagestan) because they had been "denied the opportunity to develop their culture" under Soviet rule. Sadval did not find support ground in Azerbaijan, moreover, it was cited for the March 19, 1994 Baku Metro bombings, 1994 bomb attack in Baku subway during which 27 people were killed. There was evidence that Armenian Secret Service had participated in the creation of Sadval, provided funding, training and weapons to its militants.

References

{{Ethnic nationalism Lezgins Separatism in Azerbaijan Irredentism

Historical concept

Political concept

See also

References