Russia’s Ethnic Mari Voice Concerns Over Efforts To Restrict Traditional Worship

Members of Russia’s Mari minority have voiced concern over what they see as efforts to restrict the practice of their ancient pagan religion, writes RFE/RL.

Alexey Yashmolkin “Melody”

The musical composition is performed by teachers and students at the National Presidential School of Arts of the Republic of Mari El.

Russian delegations, Putin could still attend the Finno-Ugric World Congres

Tõnu Seilenthal, a member of the Consultative Committee of Finno-Ugric Peoples, the coordinating body of the World Congress of Finno-Ugric Peoples, due to take place this summer in Tartu, Estonia, says in an interview with Estonian World that even if the Russian Federation creates an “iron curtain”, the results of the cooperation so far will still support the vitality and continuity of the Finno-Ugric peoples of Russia; Seilenthal does not yet rule out that representatives of the Russia’s Finno-Ugric community – and even president Vladimir Putin – will still attend the congress.

Speech by a Mari priest at the UN

Closing ceremony of The 20th Session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues by priest of Mari Traditional Religion, Albert Ivanovich Rukavishnikov (video recording).