diff --git a/lib/rouge/lexers/python.rb b/lib/rouge/lexers/python.rb
index 6eeea88655..01b826b624 100644
--- a/lib/rouge/lexers/python.rb
+++ b/lib/rouge/lexers/python.rb
@@ -67,8 +67,8 @@ def self.exceptions
         )
       end
 
-      identifier =        /[a-z_][a-z0-9_]*/i
-      dotted_identifier = /[a-z_.][a-z0-9_.]*/i
+      identifier =        /[[:alpha:]_][[:alnum:]_]*/
+      dotted_identifier = /[[:alpha:]_.][[:alnum:]_.]*/
 
       def current_string
         @string_register ||= StringRegister.new
diff --git a/spec/visual/samples/python b/spec/visual/samples/python
index 8331581809..7a59935014 100644
--- a/spec/visual/samples/python
+++ b/spec/visual/samples/python
@@ -150,3 +150,8 @@ x @= y
 f'{hello} world {int(x) + 1}'
 f'{{ {4*10} }}'
 f'result: {value:{width}.{precision}}'
+
+# Unicode identifiers
+α = 10
+def coöperative(б):
+    return f"{б} is Russian"
\ No newline at end of file