National movements of Idel-Ural peoples use all possible means to protect their identity from permanent onslaught of Moscow. In this long-lasting and unequal struggle we have virtually no international support. Any display of solidarity with national movements of Idel-Ural is a portion of freedom which motivates us to move forward. 

A round table, dedicated to violation of rights of native peoples in Russian Federation, was held at Committee on the Foreign Affairs of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (Ukrainian parliament) on December 7, 2018. The event gathered members of Ukrainian parliament, diplomats, scientists, human rights advocates and political emigrants from Russia. Activists of Free Idel-Ural civic movement presented special lectures about political situation in republics of Idel-Ural (rus. Povolzhye). 

Our movement adressed to Rustam Minnikhanov, President of Republic of Tatarstan, with a request to provide financial support to family of Danis Safargali, Tatar political prisoner. His wife Guzel is now raising 4 children on her own.

For more than eight months official authorities of Republic of Mordovia have been exploring the issue of building a monument to famous warlord Inyazor Purgaz.

The expiring year seems to become one of most dramatic in newest history of Idel-Ural. Our people lost their right to teach official languages of the Republics as obligatory school disciplines. Without regard to numerous mass meetings and pickets, statements and appeals, Moscow implemented humiliating procedure in our republics: to study Mari or Erzyan language it is necessary to apply special written statements, and even more, in some cases to convince school management that mother tongue of your child should be allowed to study there. 

We are compelled to note that in 2018 the situation with respect of language rights for peoples of Idel-Ural became only worse. Erzyan, Mokshan, Chuvash, Mari, Tatar, Udmurt and Bashkir languages not only did not extend their scope of application – on the contrary, their positions in education have weakened substantially. Russian authorities offer to our people to practice their mother tongues in families, to sing folk songs in villages and to participate voluntarily in humiliating bureaucratic measures, aimed to cover russification with slogans about friendship of nations. We demand the most exdended functioning of our official languages in all spheres of public and private life, from government services to television and radion broadcasting.

Rafis Kashapov, Tatar activist, who is considered to be one of Tatars national movement leaders, and a co-founder of Free Idel-Ural civic movement, was put on BOLO (be on the lookout) list.

On September, 23 political map of Idel-Ural, created at the initiative of Free Idel-Ural civic movement, was presented to the public in Lviv. Presentation took place within the framework of Lviv Publishers’ Forum – annual cultural event, that gathers thousands of participants from all Ukraine and abroad.

Founder of Association of native peoples of Russian Federation Danis Safarghali is subjected to abuse and harassment in colony №5 in Kirovo-Chepetsk.

Practice of elimination of Mari and Udmurt temples must be immediately stopped. Xenophobic actions of Russian orthodox church (ROC) can result in tragic consequences.

On the occasion of 28th anniversary of Declaration on the State Sovereignty of the Republic of Tatarstan

Press-conference, organized by Free Idel-Ural civic movement, took place at August 1 at Glavkom press centre in Kyiv. A co-founder of the movement, erzyan activist Syres’ Bolyayen’ informed about current situation on official languages in Idel-Ural republics, namely Mordovia, Mari El, Chuvashia, Udmurtia, Tatarstan and Bashkortostan.

On May 26 Free Idel-Ural civic movement conducted a civic action near “Olympic” stadium in Kyiv on the occasion of the Champions League final match between English Liverpool and Spanish Real football clubs.

On May, 16th Free Idel-Ural civic movement picketed the embassy of the Russian Federation in Ukraine. Activists announced two demands: to stop prosecution of national movements’ activists and release a Tatar political prisoner Danis Safarghali.

On 28 April, representatives of the indigenous peoples of the Volga region, united in the civil movement of Free Idel-Ural, held protests at Russian diplomatic missions in various countries of the world, particularly in Ukraine.