- published: 31 Aug 2013
- views: 46127
The Republic of Dagestan ( /dɑːɡɨˈstɑːn/ or /dæɡɨˈstæn/; Russian: Респу́блика Дагеста́н, Respublika Dagestan; also spelled Daghestan) is a federal subject (a republic) 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. Population: 2,910,249 (2010 Census).
Dagestan is ethnically very diverse, with several dozen ethnic groups and subgroups inhabiting the republic, most of which speak either Caucasian, Turkic, or Iranian languages. Largest among these ethnic groups are the Avar, Dargin, Kumyk, Azeri, Lezgin, and Laks. While Russians form only a small proportion (3.6%) of the population, Russian remains the primary official language and the lingua franca among the ethnic groups.
Dagestan has been a scene of low-level Islamic insurgency, occasional outbreaks of separatism, ethnic tensions and terrorism since the 1990s. According to International Crisis Group, the militant Islamist organization Shariat Jamaat is responsible for much of the violence. Much of the tension is rooted in an internal Islamic conflict between traditional Sufi groups advocating secular government and more recently introduced Salafist teachers preaching the implementation of Sharia law in Dagestan.
The deformed wings, the deadly eyes,
his precious head, it has a price.
The bird has a mission here, don't loose your faith.
It will be there.
Feel he's coming to take your soul,
don't you come near him, you won't get old.
And the raven came out from the woods.
For his survival he'll take your blood.
His presence here must be known.
Your veins burn but it's freezing cold.
When his beak breaks through your skin
then you're lost, you can't win.
The salivary secretion he spits in your arm,
takes away your feeling and makes you warm.
And the raven came out from the woods.
For his survival he'll take your blood.
Now draw your bow to destroy him and wipe him away.
Fight for your life and don't make him stay.
It's your decision not to invite him in.
Find another playmate.