PhD in History
Professor
Telavi Iakob Gogebashvili State University
Telavi, Georgia
ORCID: 0000-0002-3446-2831
tengiz.simashvili@gmail.com

Soviet National Policy and the Re-settlement of the Lezgi (Khundz/ Avars) in Georgia in the 1950s: An Analysis

The migration of the Lezgi into Georgia began in the late 19th century, supported by the Russian Empire. They moved from Dagestan to Kakheti, where the Alazani plain was used for wintering livestock.

In 1944, as part of the deportation of the Chechen-Ingush ASSR population, the Lezgi were relocated from Kakheti back to Dagestan. They were compensated for the value of their property and allowed to take personal possessions, livestock, and financial assets with them.

After Stalin’s death in 1956, a process began for the return of deported peoples, including the Lezgi, to Kakheti. Despite official restrictions, in 1957 the Lezgi began returning to the Qvareli district, creating tension with local authorities. Moreover, families who had no prior connection with Georgia before 1944 also arrived in Kakheti, complicating the resettlement further.

 

Keywords: Lezgi, Migration, Resettlement