Establishment of the Russian-Speaking Diaspora in Cyprus

DOI: 10.33876/2311-0546/2026-3/208-218

Abstract

In this article, the author, who has been living in Cyprus for many years, in cooperation with her colleague-anthropologist attempts to outline in the anthropological paradigm of the local Russian (Russian-speaking) diaspora. The work is based on the author’s field materials and makes use of the method of participant observation. Drawing on his experience of living on the island and close contacts with both representatives of the Russian diaspora and the local population, the author explores various aspects of the life of the community — one of the largest and most compact non-national diasporas living in Cyprus. The focus is on the number of Russian-speaking migrants as well as the ethnic, social, cultural, linguistic, confessional, professional, and social characteristics of the diaspora’s members — from their everyday life to their social, patriotic and civic manifestations. The Russian diaspora and the Russian-speaking community are particularly distinguished from each other in that the latter includes a much broader stratum of migrants — not only ethnic Russians or Russian citizens, but also Russian-speaking immigrants from the territories of the former Soviet Union. This emphasizes the role of the Russian language as a means of interethnic communication and the consolidation of multiethnic communities. The study also touches upon the difficulties of assimilation of Russian speakers in Cyprus.