Cherkesogai

Cherkesogai (Russian: Черкесогаи) or Circassian Armenians (Armenian: չերքեզահայերcherk'ezahayer; Russian: черкесские армяне; Circassian: Адыгэ-ермэлы), sometimes referred to as Ermeli (Circassian: Ермэлы), Mountainous Armenians (Russian: горские армяне), or Kuban Armenians (Russian: закубанские армяне), are ethnic Armenians who inhabit Russia's Krasnodar Krai and Republic of Adyghea since the end of 15th century that spoke the Adyghe language (currently, most of them speak Russian as their first language), apart from other Armenians living in the region. They reside mostly in the cities of Armavir and Maykop. The total number of Cherkosogai is about 50,000 people (2008 estimate). According to Russian 2002 Census 230 Armenians speak Lowland Adyghe and 222 speak Kabardian Adyghe as native.

Notable Cherkesogai include the first Soviet millionaire Artyom Mikhailovich Tarasov, Prix Goncourt-winning writer Henri Troyat (né Lev Aslanovich Tarasov), merchant Nikita Pavlovich Bogarsukov, and ballerina Olga Aslanovna Tarasova.

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