Paganism in Russia Becoming Political Because of Ignorance and Inattention of Authorities

Experts Say

The attention that self-proclaimed Shaman Gabyshev has received for his plans to march on Moscow and the victory of the KPRF over United Russia in Mari El, one of the strongholds of traditional religion in the Russian Federation, have sparked concerns in the Russian capital that paganism is energizing the political opposition.

Tallinn celebrates Ethnic Culture Days

Tallinn will celebrate ‘Ethnic Culture Days’ for the seventh time this month. Events will take place from September 18-26 in the capital.

Russian Nationalist Denounces Adding Karelian to Street Signs in Petrozavodsk as Step toward Secession

The city government of Petrozavodsk, the capital of the Karelian Republic, has begun putting up street signs with names in both Russian and Karelian, even though ethnic Russians form 80 percent of the city’s population and even though Karelian is not a state language in the republic.

“Onaeng” Trailer

Trailer for the film Onaeng (Mari priest) by Andrew Ogorodnikov.

Hill Mari wedding from matchmaking to post-wedding rutes

Mountain Mari are a sub-ethnic group of the small Finno-Ugric Mari people. Most of the mountain Mari live on the land of their ancestors in the mountainous regions of the Republic of Mari El, located in the center of the European part of Russia. Many interesting and distinctive rituals have survived to this day in the traditional culture of this ancient people, one of which is marriage ceremony.

The 1st Finno-Ugric Heritage Tourism Forum

The 1st Finno-Ugric Heritage Tourism Forum will be held on 30 July, 11-16, in Mulgimaa (Estonia). The International forum aims to stimulate exchanges and cooperation between Finno-Ugric tourism entrepreneurs, developers and culture carriers in the field of heritage tourism, including in marketing and product development.

Mari Pagans Seek Registration as All-Russian Religious Organization

But Face Major Obstacles

The Centralized Religious Organization of Mari Traditional Religion is seeking recognition as an all-Russian religious group because so many of its adepts live beyond the borders of the republic, but it faces serious obstacles on that path from some Mari pagans, from republic officials and from Moscow.

Roskomnadzor blocks Estonia-based website MariUver

The reason was the posting of news about the action in memory of the Udmurt scientist Albert Razin, who committed self-immolation.

Mari El Groups Warn of Social Explosion if Moscow Proceeds with Amalgamation Plans

Suggestions emanating from Moscow that the Russian government plans to amalgamate portions of Mari El with Tatarstan have infuriated many of the Finno-Ugric nation’s members who see this plan whether formal or informal via agglomeration as “the death knell” of their people.

The Mari People’s Congress is fully controlled by the authorities since 2008

Due to the issues with the legitimate representatives of the Finno-Ugric peoples on the VIII World Congress of Finno-Ugric Peoples and the issues raised by Erzan Inäzor Syreś Boläeń we publish fully addressing of Mari Vasli Nikolajev he made in Facebook group Finno-Ugric People Unite to draw attention to the issues of indigenous people in Russia, from whom the majority are Finno-Ugric peoples, writes WALDEF.