Crimean karaites: past and present

The article deals with the origin of the small ethnic group of Crimean Karaites or Krymkaraylar. This small ethnos is both a small nation and a unique religious community. Special attention is paid to various opinions about the origin of this community. The author discusses the questions of culture, traditions and customs of the Crimean Karaites, whose members live mostly in Crimea and Lithuania.