Adzhars

Adzhars

 

(also Adzhareli), Georgians who live in the Adzhar ASSR and who speak Georgian.

During the Turkish domination (from the second half of the 16th century until 1878) the Adzhars were forced to become Muslims; before that time they had professed Christianity. Despite this policy of enforced Turkification, the Adzhars preserved their national self-awareness and native language, as well as their own original forms of culture and way of life.