Putin Names Merkushkin to New Post to Counter Foreign Influence among Russia’s Finno-Ugric Nations

Vladimir Putin has named Nikolay Merkushkin, the man he just replaced as Samara governor to be his special representative to the upcoming World Congress of Finno-Ugric Peoples, an assignment many will see as a consolation prize but that reflects growing concern about the Finno-Ugric peoples within the Russian Federation.

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Reading Hill Mari through Meadow Mari

Dear friends, colleagues, readers, and students, our second (of four) scheduled publications this year is now ready to be downloaded: “Reading Hill Mari through Meadow Mari”. This 400-page book introduces the second literary standard of Mari (used by less than 10% of Maris, but nonetheless the working language of a vibrant culture and literature) to students and scholars already acquainted with Meadow Mari, the dominant literary standard of Mari that is now quite accessible via various materials we have published on our website, omj.mari-language.com.

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,