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The Russians are very "weak" Slavs, if we look historically and genetically. The Eastern slavic medieval tribes (Krivichi, Vyatichi, Radimichi, Dregovichi) were most likely heavily influenced from Balts, to this that they were probably, originally, the Baltic tribes at the beginning, which will be later assimilated by Slavs. The ethonyms "Vyatichi" , "Radimichi" , "Dregovichi" are, according to linguists of Baltic origin, and "-ichi" is Slavic suffix. While "Krivichi" have 2 versions; Of the Slavic tribal leader named "Kriv", or of the Baltic word "Krieva" which would mean "blood".
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