Estonians in Abkhazia

Estonians in Abkhazia are a minority residing in Abkhazia, recognized worldwide as an autonomous region of Georgia but de facto an independent country. Estonians began to emigrate to Abkhazia when the region became part of the Russian Empire and many Abkhazians left or were expelled. The tsarist regime began to repopulate the area with its Christian subjects, including Estonians. There were numerous waves of migration from Estonia to Abkhazia, where the peasants were promised land. Among others, they founded the villages of Sulevi and Salme in the west and Alam-Linda, Ülem-Linda and Estonka near Sukhumi. In the villages, the Estonians also had their own schools.

The climatic conditions in the southern Caucasus led to many changes in their lives, traditionally Estonian peasants grew barley, rye, oats and wheats. These crops were replaced by corn in the late 19th century. Later growing pears, tangerines, black plums, tea and tobacco was adopted.

In 1914. an Estonian Song Festival was held in Sukhumi, attended by Estonians from all over the Russian Empire.

During the Stalin era the NKVD of the Georgian SSR arrested and convicted 55 Estonians, 37 of whom were sentenced to death and 18 who were sent to prison.

Because of the Georgian-Abkhazian war, many Estonians fled to Estonia; in one single operation in 1992, the Estonian authorities evacuated 170 Estonians.

Estonians currently (2008 estimate) number 0.2% of the population of Abkhazia. The biggest share of Estonians living in the capital Sukhumi was back in 1939 - 206 Estonians resided there that made up 0.5% of the population. Most Abkhazian Estonians live in Western Abkhazia.

List of settlements

 * Alam-Linda or Kummi küla
 * Estonia or Estonka
 * Salme küla
 * Sulevi küla
 * Ülem-Linda