Bashkir

The Bashkirs are a Turkic-speaking ethnic group native to the Volga–Ural region of Russia, primarily associated with the Republic of Bashkortostan. They live in Bashkortostan and in neighboring regions, with communities in other parts of Russia and in several countries of the former Soviet Union. The Bashkir language, a member of the Kipchak branch of Turkic languages, is traditionally spoken alongside Russian and has a written form based on Cyrillic script.

Language and official status: Bashkir is closely related to Tatar and other Kipchak languages. It is an official language of Bashkortostan alongside Russian and is taught in schools, used in local media, literature, and cultural institutions.

History: The Bashkirs have long inhabited the Volga-Ural region and historically formed political entities such as the Bashkir Khanate. They gradually came under Russian rule during the 16th to 18th centuries. In the Soviet era, the Bashkir Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was established within the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, and after the dissolution of the USSR, Bashkortostan became a federal subject of the Russian Federation.

Culture and religion: The majority of Bashkirs are Muslim, predominantly following the Hanafi school. The culture includes traditional music, crafts such as embroidery and metalwork, and distinctive cuisine. Dishes like bishbarmaq and beverages such as kumis reflect traditional Bashkir heritage.