History of the Lak people
Encyclopedia
Lak people
(Laks), self-designation – Lak (pl. Lakru). Native language - Lak
. Laks name their place of settlement "Lakral Kanu" (place of Laks). Historical capital of Laks is Kumukh
— one of the ancient cultural and religions centres of Dagestan. The History of the Lak people encompasses the Lak peoples' ethnic history and their history within the states of Dagestan
.
"Leg"), a tribe mentioned in the 5th century BC by ancient and medieval authors. The great Russian philology scholar of the 19th century Uslar P. K. compared ethnic term "Lak" with the name of tribe "Leg" mentioned by Strabon and put forward a thesis about the identity of the word "Lak" with the name Lekos related to one of the descendants of Japheth
, according to a Georgian legend.
after more than 100 years of war conquered Eastern Caucasus. Dagestan fell under the influence of Persia.
In 552 Khazars invaded North-Eastern Caucasus and occupied northern lowlands of Dagestan. Reigning Shah of Persia Anushirvan
(531—579) to protect his possessions from the new wave of nomads began the construction of defensive fortifications in Derbent, that closed a narrow passage between the Caspian Sea and Caucasian mountains. Anushirvan
owned fortress Gumik
which was named as "Al-Lak and Gumik" by Arab historians. In the 7th century Kumukh was ruled by patricians. Dominant religion Christianity. Kumukh — center of Episcopate.
s and Khazars. In 643, during the reign of caliph Umar ibn Khattab
, Arab armies led by Abd al-Rahman ibn Rabi capture Derbent and the neighboring territories. In 652 Abd al-Rahman ibn Rabi was killed during the siege of Khazar city of Balanjar. In 662 Khazars invaded Dagestan. In 698 Muhammad ibn Marwan, brother of caliph Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, captured Derbent. In 705 Maslamah ibn Abd al-Malik
, brother of caliph Al-Walid I, once again takes over Derbent.
In 722 caliph Yazid II
sent warlord al-Djarrah al-Hakami to defend the fortress of Derbent. Historian Al-Tabari
writes about the campaigns of al-Djarrah: "Arabs defeating Khazars in southern Dagestan moved to the mountains of Dagestan, overcame the resistance of the people of Khamzin and Gumik and in punitive expeditions plunged and ransacked Kaitag and Tabasaran, for refusal to subordinate to their authority". Historian Balami
writes that in 723
the warlord al-Djarrah "called one of his close commanders, gave him three thousand warriors and said to him: go to Kaitag, destroy there everything that you will meet on your way, fight everyone who will show you resistance and come back to me before the sunrise". In 723 Arab forces under the command of al-Djarrah move through the territory of Dagestan and capture Balanjar. In 730
al-Djarrah was killed in the battle of Marj Ardabil.
In 733 mentioned Maslamah ibn Abd al-Malik, brother of caliph Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik as well, "fortified Derbent in the best possible way" by building seven iron gates "and marched with his army to Kumuk
". Rulers of Kumukh had a bloody battle where invading Arabs had won. In 736 Arabs lost their authority over Dagestan.
In 737 Marwan Ibn Muhammad
, cousin of caliph Hisham, overcoming powerful fortresses obliges the rulers of mountainous Dagestan to pay tribute. Ibn Hayyat, Iranian author of the 9th century, informs that after the capture of "Gumik" and "Khunzakh", Marwan "went away from there, and entered the land of Tumen". According to Al-Balazuri, Marwan at the head of 120,000 army invaded Khazar possessions. The Khazar army endures a series of defeats. Marwan captures the city of Samandar
.
becomes the state religion and a Muslim state was formed, with the capital in Kazi-Kumukh.
In 1239 Tatar-Mongols invaded Dagestan. Kumukh was captured and destroyed. In 1318 Mongols resumed their raids on Dagestan. Kazi-Kumukh establishes relations with Ikhanate of Iran and later with Khanate of the Golden Horde. In 1396 Tamerlane waged a war against Shamkhal of Kazi-Kumukh.
From 15th century starts a new period of political dominance of Shamkhalate. In 1556 diplomatic ties with the Moscow government were established. In 1642 during the protracted wars Shamkhalate splits into independent states.
, and subject it to mayhem and plunder. In 1721 Shemakha was once again invaded by Dagestani army. In 1722 Peter I of Russia
conducted a military expedition to Dagestan. In 1725 Surkhay-Khan I became the ruler of Shirvan. From 1734 to 1747 Dagestan endured Persian invasions led by general Nader who later became the shah of Persia.
In 1743 Muhammad-Khan with the support of Turkey conducted two campaigns against Persian Shirvan and achieved a complete defeat of Nader-shah. In 1789 the ruler in Kazi-Kumukh becomes Surkhay-Khan II, son of Muhammad-Khan. During the reign of Surkhay-Khan II, Iran, Russia and Turkey resumed their military interventions in Caucasus. In 1820 the Khanate of Kazi-Kumukh was conquered by Russian Empire. In 1860 the District of Kazi-Kumukh was formed under Russian administration.
. In September 1877 Fatali-Bek of Kazi-Kumukh, one of the nobles, was killed in clashes.
After the capture of Tsudakhar and Sogratl many "instigators" of the revolt were executed. Kazi-Kumukh was deprived of its honoured prefix "Kazi" and about 7000 persons with families, including Laks, were deported to distant provinces of Russian empire. Long journey and insanitary conditions caused a high death rate among the prisoners. Some captives managed to escape to Iran, England and Ottoman empire.
In 1920 the Soviet rule was established. In 28.10.1922 Kazi-Kumukh district was renamed into Lak district. In 29.03.1935 it was divided into Lak district and Kuli district.
Collectivization and "socialist construction in the area of national culture development" was then carried out. In 1937 in a number of villages operated cells of SVB — "Union of militant atheists": in Khosrekh - 25, Vikhli - 16. In 1940 in 5 out of 14 villages of Kuli district the mosque buildings were demolished.
In 1930 Ali Kayaev, a Muslim enlightener and reformer of Dagestan and native of Kumukh, was arrested and exiled to Southern Ural. He was accused of participating in counter-revolutionary organization. In 1913 Ali Kayaev was the editor of Arabic newspaper "Jaridatu Dagistan" in Temir-Khan-Shura city, which was published until 1918. Writing for a newspaper brings Ali Kayaev large popularity in Dagestan. The newspaper was established on the initiative of governor of Dagestan. In 1934 Ali Kayaev returns from exile and works in a Research Institute of Dagestan. In 1938 scientist was again arrested.
Building of local industry began in the Lak district. The mechanized mills and enterprises were built for processing raw materials. A small hydroelectric power plant supplied electricity. Primary school education was made compulsory. Mass edition of books and newspapers in Lak language was initiated.
In 1947 there died more than third of Lak migrants not counting 600 soldiers from these villages lost in the war. Some survivor tried to go back into the mountains.
The Second World War brought Laks 6 Heroes of the USSR (one twice). Six warriors – Ahmed Khan Sultan, Buganov Gadji, Kuznetsov Ramazan, Makaev Tsakhay, Suleymanov Rizvan and Suleymanov Yakov were given the high rank of Hero of Soviet Union. Ahmed Khan Sultan was given this rank twice. Kamalov Gasan-Gusain became national hero of Italy and Kushayev Gusain of France. Eight Laks reached the rank of military generals – Khalilov Michael, Suleymanov Ahmed, Khalilov Salikh, Khalilov Vyacheslav, Pirmagomedov Isa, Magomedov Efendi, Kunbuttaev Lev and Shtanchaev Imanali.
On Reichstag
an inscription was left: "Dagestan, Lak district, Ata". It was left by soldier Ataev Ata from the Lak village of Unchukatl.
On July 23 of 1994, under the law of Russian Federation "On the rehabilitation of people subjected to repression", it was decided to migrate the Lak population from Novolak district to salt-marsh earths unsuitable for vegetation, located to the north of Makhachkala
city.
Lak people (Dagestan)
The Laks, self-designation Lak, are an indigenous people of Dagestan, speaking the Lak language. There are about 170,000 ethnic Laks.-History:An ancient polity on the Lak territory was the principality of Gumik...
(Laks), self-designation – Lak (pl. Lakru). Native language - Lak
Lak language
The Lak language is a Northeast Caucasian language forming its own branch within this family. It is the language of the Lak people from the Russian autonomous republic of Dagestan, where it is one of six standardized languages...
. Laks name their place of settlement "Lakral Kanu" (place of Laks). Historical capital of Laks is Kumukh
Kumukh
Kumukh is a village and the administrative center of Laksky District in Dagestan. It is located on the banks of the river Kazikumukhskoye Koysu.Previously known as Kazi-Kumukh .- History :...
— one of the ancient cultural and religions centres of Dagestan. The History of the Lak people encompasses the Lak peoples' ethnic history and their history within the states of Dagestan
Dagestan
The Republic of Dagestan is a federal subject of Russia, located in the North Caucasus region. Its capital and the largest city is Makhachkala, located at the center of Dagestan on the Caspian Sea...
.
Ancient period
The self-designation of Laks is associated with the name "Lek" (antique"Leg"), a tribe mentioned in the 5th century BC by ancient and medieval authors. The great Russian philology scholar of the 19th century Uslar P. K. compared ethnic term "Lak" with the name of tribe "Leg" mentioned by Strabon and put forward a thesis about the identity of the word "Lak" with the name Lekos related to one of the descendants of Japheth
Japheth
Japheth is one of the sons of Noah in the Abrahamic tradition...
, according to a Georgian legend.
Persian and Khazar invasions of 6th CE
In the 6th century the Sassanid EmpireSassanid Empire
The Sassanid Empire , known to its inhabitants as Ērānshahr and Ērān in Middle Persian and resulting in the New Persian terms Iranshahr and Iran , was the last pre-Islamic Persian Empire, ruled by the Sasanian Dynasty from 224 to 651...
after more than 100 years of war conquered Eastern Caucasus. Dagestan fell under the influence of Persia.
In 552 Khazars invaded North-Eastern Caucasus and occupied northern lowlands of Dagestan. Reigning Shah of Persia Anushirvan
Khosrau I
Khosrau I , also known as Anushiravan the Just or Anushirawan the Just Khosrau I (also called Chosroes I in classical sources, most commonly known in Persian as Anushirvan or Anushirwan, Persian: انوشيروان meaning the immortal soul), also known as Anushiravan the Just or Anushirawan the Just...
(531—579) to protect his possessions from the new wave of nomads began the construction of defensive fortifications in Derbent, that closed a narrow passage between the Caspian Sea and Caucasian mountains. Anushirvan
Khosrau I
Khosrau I , also known as Anushiravan the Just or Anushirawan the Just Khosrau I (also called Chosroes I in classical sources, most commonly known in Persian as Anushirvan or Anushirwan, Persian: انوشيروان meaning the immortal soul), also known as Anushiravan the Just or Anushirawan the Just...
owned fortress Gumik
Kumukh
Kumukh is a village and the administrative center of Laksky District in Dagestan. It is located on the banks of the river Kazikumukhskoye Koysu.Previously known as Kazi-Kumukh .- History :...
which was named as "Al-Lak and Gumik" by Arab historians. In the 7th century Kumukh was ruled by patricians. Dominant religion Christianity. Kumukh — center of Episcopate.
Arab invasions of 7th-8th CE
This period is known by a 150 years of war that peoples of north-eastern Caucasus fought against ArabArab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
s and Khazars. In 643, during the reign of caliph Umar ibn Khattab
Umar
`Umar ibn al-Khattāb c. 2 November , was a leading companion and adviser to the Islamic prophet Muhammad who later became the second Muslim Caliph after Muhammad's death....
, Arab armies led by Abd al-Rahman ibn Rabi capture Derbent and the neighboring territories. In 652 Abd al-Rahman ibn Rabi was killed during the siege of Khazar city of Balanjar. In 662 Khazars invaded Dagestan. In 698 Muhammad ibn Marwan, brother of caliph Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, captured Derbent. In 705 Maslamah ibn Abd al-Malik
Maslamah ibn Abd al-Malik
Maslamah ibn Abd al-Malik was an Umayyad prince and one of the most prominent Arab generals of the early decades of the 8th century, leading several campaigns against the Byzantine Empire and the Khazar Khaganate...
, brother of caliph Al-Walid I, once again takes over Derbent.
In 722 caliph Yazid II
Yazid II
Yazid bin Abd al-Malik or Yazid II was an Umayyad caliph who ruled from 720 until his death in 724.According to the medieval Persian historian Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari, Yazid came to power on the death of Umar II on February 10, 720. His forces engaged in battle the Kharijites with whom Umar...
sent warlord al-Djarrah al-Hakami to defend the fortress of Derbent. Historian Al-Tabari
Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari
Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari was a prominent and influential Sunni scholar and exegete of the Qur'an from Persia...
writes about the campaigns of al-Djarrah: "Arabs defeating Khazars in southern Dagestan moved to the mountains of Dagestan, overcame the resistance of the people of Khamzin and Gumik and in punitive expeditions plunged and ransacked Kaitag and Tabasaran, for refusal to subordinate to their authority". Historian Balami
Bal'ami
AMĪRAK BALʿAMĪ, name given to ABŪ ʿALĪ MOḤAMMAD , son of Abu’l-Fażl Moḥammad b. ʿObaydallāh Baḷʿamī ' ; both served as viziers of the Samanids . Mostly known as Bal'ami , was a Persian historian, writer, and vizier to the Samanids...
writes that in 723
723
Year 723 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 723 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Religion :* Saint Boniface fells Thor's Oak near...
the warlord al-Djarrah "called one of his close commanders, gave him three thousand warriors and said to him: go to Kaitag, destroy there everything that you will meet on your way, fight everyone who will show you resistance and come back to me before the sunrise". In 723 Arab forces under the command of al-Djarrah move through the territory of Dagestan and capture Balanjar. In 730
730
Year 730 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 730 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* Charles Martel defeats the last independent...
al-Djarrah was killed in the battle of Marj Ardabil.
In 733 mentioned Maslamah ibn Abd al-Malik, brother of caliph Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik as well, "fortified Derbent in the best possible way" by building seven iron gates "and marched with his army to Kumuk
Kumukh
Kumukh is a village and the administrative center of Laksky District in Dagestan. It is located on the banks of the river Kazikumukhskoye Koysu.Previously known as Kazi-Kumukh .- History :...
". Rulers of Kumukh had a bloody battle where invading Arabs had won. In 736 Arabs lost their authority over Dagestan.
In 737 Marwan Ibn Muhammad
Marwan II
Marwan ibn Muhammad ibn Marwan or Marwan II was an Umayyad caliph who ruled from 744 until 750 when he was killed. He was the last Umayyad ruler to rule from Damascus.In A.H. 114 Caliph Hisham appointed Marwan governor of Armenia and Azerbaijan. In A.H...
, cousin of caliph Hisham, overcoming powerful fortresses obliges the rulers of mountainous Dagestan to pay tribute. Ibn Hayyat, Iranian author of the 9th century, informs that after the capture of "Gumik" and "Khunzakh", Marwan "went away from there, and entered the land of Tumen". According to Al-Balazuri, Marwan at the head of 120,000 army invaded Khazar possessions. The Khazar army endures a series of defeats. Marwan captures the city of Samandar
Samandar (city)
Samandar was a city in Khazaria on the western shore of the Caspian Sea, south of the city of Atil, in the North Caucasus. The exact location of the city is unknown, but most likely, it was situated on the Terek river near the present-day city of Kizlyar, which, like Samandar, is noted for its...
.
Shamkhalate of Kazi-Kumukh of 11th-17th CE
Establishment of Lak state refers to the ruler of Kumukh who in the epoch of Arab dominance in Dagestan is named with the title "Shamkhal". At the turn of the 11th-12th centuries Islam in LakiaLakia (Dagestan)
Lakia — the name of ethnic territory of Laks in the mountainous Dagestan. The administrative center of Lakia is Kumukh – the political center of Laks over a thousand-year history of their state...
becomes the state religion and a Muslim state was formed, with the capital in Kazi-Kumukh.
In 1239 Tatar-Mongols invaded Dagestan. Kumukh was captured and destroyed. In 1318 Mongols resumed their raids on Dagestan. Kazi-Kumukh establishes relations with Ikhanate of Iran and later with Khanate of the Golden Horde. In 1396 Tamerlane waged a war against Shamkhal of Kazi-Kumukh.
From 15th century starts a new period of political dominance of Shamkhalate. In 1556 diplomatic ties with the Moscow government were established. In 1642 during the protracted wars Shamkhalate splits into independent states.
Khanate of Kazi-Kumukh of 1642—1820
In 1642 the council of chiefs in Kumukh elect a ruler with the title of "Khalklavchi". Alibek II from the Shamkhal family that remained in Kumukh, becomes the ruler. In 1700 Surkhay-Khan I, grandson of Alibek II, was elected as a new ruler. In 1712 Surkhay-Khan I and his allies capture Shemakha, the capital of ShirvanShirvan
Shirvan , also spelled as Shirwan, Shervan, Sherwan and Šervān, is a historical region in the eastern Caucasus, known by this name in both Islamic and modern times...
, and subject it to mayhem and plunder. In 1721 Shemakha was once again invaded by Dagestani army. In 1722 Peter I of Russia
Peter I of Russia
Peter the Great, Peter I or Pyotr Alexeyevich Romanov Dates indicated by the letters "O.S." are Old Style. All other dates in this article are New Style. ruled the Tsardom of Russia and later the Russian Empire from until his death, jointly ruling before 1696 with his half-brother, Ivan V...
conducted a military expedition to Dagestan. In 1725 Surkhay-Khan I became the ruler of Shirvan. From 1734 to 1747 Dagestan endured Persian invasions led by general Nader who later became the shah of Persia.
In 1743 Muhammad-Khan with the support of Turkey conducted two campaigns against Persian Shirvan and achieved a complete defeat of Nader-shah. In 1789 the ruler in Kazi-Kumukh becomes Surkhay-Khan II, son of Muhammad-Khan. During the reign of Surkhay-Khan II, Iran, Russia and Turkey resumed their military interventions in Caucasus. In 1820 the Khanate of Kazi-Kumukh was conquered by Russian Empire. In 1860 the District of Kazi-Kumukh was formed under Russian administration.
Rebellion of 1877
In 1877 with the beginning of next Russian-Turkish war, Chechens, Ingush and Dagestani peoples revolt, which Turkey aids in a larger war with Russia. The Laks assaulted the Russian fortress in Kazi-Kumukh and exterminated its garrison. The re-establishment of Kazi-Kumukh Khanate was proclaimed. Jafar-Bek the son of Aglar-Khan became the new ruler and directed his army from Kazi-Kumukh to help insurgents in Kaitag and Tabasaran. There is a mention of religious figures of Dagestan: Hasan Al-Kadarski, Kazi-Muhammad and Haji-Muhammad of Sogratl, Qadi of Tsudakhar, Kazi-Ahmed and Abdul of Kazi-Kumukh. Other detachments rushed to besiege other Russian fortresses in Gunib and Levashi, but after heavy fights were thrown back by Russian troops moved in from North Caucasus, Transcaucasia, Middle Asia and Volga regionVolga Region
Volga Region is a historical region of Russia that encompasses the territories adjacent to the flow of Volga River. According to the flow of the river, it is usually classified into the Middle Volga Region and Lower Volga Region...
. In September 1877 Fatali-Bek of Kazi-Kumukh, one of the nobles, was killed in clashes.
After the capture of Tsudakhar and Sogratl many "instigators" of the revolt were executed. Kazi-Kumukh was deprived of its honoured prefix "Kazi" and about 7000 persons with families, including Laks, were deported to distant provinces of Russian empire. Long journey and insanitary conditions caused a high death rate among the prisoners. Some captives managed to escape to Iran, England and Ottoman empire.
Revolution of 1917
In 1919 Kazi-Kumukh district was captured by Denikin and the population was subjected to robbery: for example the small village of Shovkra had to pay a levy of 100 pairs of boots, 70 pounds of wheat, 5 horses, 3 bulls, 50 load-packs of hay, 25 pieces of wool cloth and 30 rifles.In 1920 the Soviet rule was established. In 28.10.1922 Kazi-Kumukh district was renamed into Lak district. In 29.03.1935 it was divided into Lak district and Kuli district.
Collectivization and "socialist construction in the area of national culture development" was then carried out. In 1937 in a number of villages operated cells of SVB — "Union of militant atheists": in Khosrekh - 25, Vikhli - 16. In 1940 in 5 out of 14 villages of Kuli district the mosque buildings were demolished.
In 1930 Ali Kayaev, a Muslim enlightener and reformer of Dagestan and native of Kumukh, was arrested and exiled to Southern Ural. He was accused of participating in counter-revolutionary organization. In 1913 Ali Kayaev was the editor of Arabic newspaper "Jaridatu Dagistan" in Temir-Khan-Shura city, which was published until 1918. Writing for a newspaper brings Ali Kayaev large popularity in Dagestan. The newspaper was established on the initiative of governor of Dagestan. In 1934 Ali Kayaev returns from exile and works in a Research Institute of Dagestan. In 1938 scientist was again arrested.
Building of local industry began in the Lak district. The mechanized mills and enterprises were built for processing raw materials. A small hydroelectric power plant supplied electricity. Primary school education was made compulsory. Mass edition of books and newspapers in Lak language was initiated.
Second World War
In the summer of 1944 to the lowlands of Dagestan, instead of Chechens deported on February 23, part of Laks was forcefully migrated from 43 mountainous villages and their houses demolished: 26 villages partly and 18 fully. Among them Archuta, Akhar, Bartni, Varay, Viltakh, Duchi, Kurkhi, Marki, Nitsovkra, Sundaralu, Turchi, Tukhchar, Charavali, Chayakh, Shushiya, Khalapki and Khanar. Ethnic Avars and Kumyks were too subjected to forceful migration. In the unusual climatic conditions of the newly established Novolak district with center in Beriya village, famine spreads among migrants.In 1947 there died more than third of Lak migrants not counting 600 soldiers from these villages lost in the war. Some survivor tried to go back into the mountains.
The Second World War brought Laks 6 Heroes of the USSR (one twice). Six warriors – Ahmed Khan Sultan, Buganov Gadji, Kuznetsov Ramazan, Makaev Tsakhay, Suleymanov Rizvan and Suleymanov Yakov were given the high rank of Hero of Soviet Union. Ahmed Khan Sultan was given this rank twice. Kamalov Gasan-Gusain became national hero of Italy and Kushayev Gusain of France. Eight Laks reached the rank of military generals – Khalilov Michael, Suleymanov Ahmed, Khalilov Salikh, Khalilov Vyacheslav, Pirmagomedov Isa, Magomedov Efendi, Kunbuttaev Lev and Shtanchaev Imanali.
On Reichstag
Reichstag (building)
The Reichstag building is a historical edifice in Berlin, Germany, constructed to house the Reichstag, parliament of the German Empire. It was opened in 1894 and housed the Reichstag until 1933, when it was severely damaged in a fire. During the Nazi era, the few meetings of members of the...
an inscription was left: "Dagestan, Lak district, Ata". It was left by soldier Ataev Ata from the Lak village of Unchukatl.
On July 23 of 1994, under the law of Russian Federation "On the rehabilitation of people subjected to repression", it was decided to migrate the Lak population from Novolak district to salt-marsh earths unsuitable for vegetation, located to the north of Makhachkala
Makhachkala
-Twin towns/sister cities:Makhachkala is twinned with: Sfax, Tunisia Siping, China Spokane, United States Vladikavkaz, Russia Yalova, Turkey Ndola, Zambia-See also:*...
city.
Known Laks
- Musa Manarov – Cosmonaut, Colonel of Soviet Air Force, spent 541 days in space.
- Ahmed Khan Sultan – Pilot of Soviet Union.
- Shirvani MuradovShirvani MuradovShirvani Gadzikurbanovich Muradov is a Russian wrestler, who has won a gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.Shirvani is Lak.- References :*...
– Gold medalist in Freestyle Wrestling, Beijing 2008Wrestling at the 2008 Summer OlympicsWrestling competitions at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, were held at the China Agricultural University Gymnasium from August 12–21, 2008. It was split into two disciplines, Freestyle and Greco-Roman which are further divided into different weight categories...
. - Khachilaev Nadirshah Muradovich – former head of Muslim Union of Russia. MP to State Duma of Russia.