XIV Finno-Ugric Writers’ Congress

The 14th Finno-Ugric Writers’ Congress will take place on 24-25 August 2017 in Tartu, at the Estonian National Museum.

The main topic of the congress is history and the way it is treated in Finno-Ugric literatures. In addition, current topics in these literatures will be discussed. The congress will include plenary sessions and working groups, to focus both on the main subject of the congress, and also on other questions considered important by the participants. The congress will end with a plenary session.

English-language Mari textbook published

After almost a decade of work, and after having published a preliminary version of the first half in 2010, we are happy to announce the publication of a complete version of our Mari textbook Оҥай марий йылме: A Comprehensive Introduction to the Mari Language.

The finished book, covering 40 chapters on 771 pages, can be downloaded at omj.mari-language.com free of charge.

Leonid Markelov removed from his post as head of Mari El

Alexander Evstifeev

Russian President Vladimir Putin invited Alexander Evstifeev to head Mari El, who agreed, noting that it was a great honor for him.

“You, being the deputy envoy of the Volga Federal District, were also involved in this republic. Now a situation has arisen when the acting head of the republic has asked for another area of work. Leonid Igorevich [Markelov] has been in Mari El for 16 years and would like to change his place of work. In this regard, I have a question and a proposal: would you like to head the republic before the elections in September of this year, and depending on the results, take part in the election campaign?” Putin said.

Mari El Most Russian-Occupied Non-Russian Republic

Statistics Show

Despite Vladimir Putin’s much-ballyhooed power vertical, Moscow has not imposed an identical approach to running the various non-Russian republics of the Russian Federation, as new statistics about ethnic representation in government positions in three Middle Volga republics, Mari El, Tatarstan and Chuvashia, show.

Protest “For Justice” takes place in Yoshkar-Ola

On March 26 in a number of Russian cities there were protests organized by the Anti-Corruption Foundation under the leadership of the well-known oppositionist Alexei Navalny.

A demonstration was held in the capital of Mari El in Nikonov Square organized by two young people who do not consider themselves to belong to any political party. The protest application counted 30 participants,

Summer school of Mari language and culture 2017

Yoshkar-Ola, Republic of Mari El, Russian Federation
July 2-16, 2017

Mari State University is happy to announce the annual Summer School of Mari Language and Culture organized by the Institute of National Culture and Intercultural Communication and the International Office of Mari State University. The Summer School will take place in Yoshkar-Ola, capital of the Republic of Mari El, on July 2-16, 2017. Your studies will be enhanced by an experienced teaching staff, a cozy and secure environment, and the opportunity to explore traditional Mari culture.

Mari songs from German concentration camps published as a book

On January 26 at 3 pm in the department of national regional literature and bibliography in the Sergei Chavain National Library, the book “Chetlykyse muro” (Song of the Barbed Wire) will be presented. The book’s contents were compiled by Oleg Gerasimov, a musicologist, folklorist, and Doctor of Arts.

The collection includes songs recorded in the concentration camps of Wilhelmine Germany in 1914-18 where prisoners of the Tsarist army, including representatives of the Mari people, were detained.