Russia’s Kurdology Studies (1787-1947)

Ottoman Empire and Iran were in the region against to Russia which aimed to reach the Mediterranean area over Caucasus. Russia tried to progress by building close relationships with the existing ethnic nations so as to go into the borders of the both states which had a mixed ethnic structure. Therefore, Russia wanted to know Kurd nation which exists on the targeted way. This identification period which started with learning Kurdish language enables Russians to make considerable contributions to the Kurdish literature. In this relation, the institutions were established and some efforts were initiated with the name of Kurdology. Russia, in contrast to the Kurdology works of the other European countries, carried out the relevant studies under the umbrella of Academy of Sciences. The consulate and the military personals along with the civic researchers were asked for making investigations related to Kurds with the commands of Russia. The efforts started in the Russia about the Kurdology field have got continued until now, firstly by Soviet Russia, then by Russian Federation; in this way, Russia have made a lot of progress on this area. The current study examines specifically the activities of Russia regarding the Kurdology subject