Scientists point to historical prerequisites for treating Cossacks as a people

The directory of the "Rosstat" (Russian Federal State Statistics Service), prepared for the All-Russian Population Census, lists over ten nationalities containing the word "Cossack". The demands of the Cossacks living in Southern Russia to recognize them as a people are historically justified; however, they sound amid the erosion of Cossacks' national identity, scientists have pointed out.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that during the 2010 All-Russian Census, over 67,000 people identified themselves as Cossacks (Russian Cossacks). On January 26, 2013, about 700 Cossacks held a rally in Rostov, demanding to recognize them as a people.

For the next census upcoming in the fall of 2021, a list was approved containing 13 nationalities with the word "Cossack", the website of the government of the Rostov Region has reported with reference to Marina Samoilova, the head of the Rostov branch of the "Rosstat".

According to Alexei Gunya, Doctor of Geography, the decrease in the number of people registering as Cossacks has to do with two processes. Firstly, in the 1990s, they "went too far" with Cossack nationalism; and in the 2000s there was a rollback - "a significant number of people got tired of this 'masquerade', and they preferred to go to Russians." Secondly, the departure of many Cossacks from Northern Caucasus played some role.