Mari people complain of continued persecution by Russian officials
01.03.05
International appeal on behalf of small Finno-Ugric nation
The Finno-Ugric Mari people of the Russian Republic of Mari have
complained of a wave of political oppression at the hands of nationalist
Russians.
The attacks were prompted by the Presidential
elections in December, in which the ethnic Mari put their support behind
their own candidate, Mikhail Dolgov. When the elections were won
by incumbent Leonid Markelov, officials in the republic began a
campaign of intimidation against the defiant Mari.
During the Markelov presidency, beatings of opposition supporters
with iron pipes have become routine.
At least two journalists and one head
of a printing house have been killed in this manner. One male journalist
has been beaten to within an inch of his life, and a female journalist
was beaten with fists.
Threats have also been used to pressure
head teachers of schools and local officials to resign. The dismissal of
about 1,000 Mari officials is seen as a blow to indigenous culture.
On February 22nd an appeal was published
on the letters to the editor page of Helsingin Sanomat on behalf
of the democratic rights of the Mari. Its signatories included Finland's
former Speaker of Parliament Riitta Uosukainen and Estonian President
Lennart Meri.
Vladimir Kozlov, one of the leaders of the Mari opposition, shows
a recent picture taken after he was beaten with an iron pipe in early February
in the republic's capital Joshkar-Ola.
Source: Helsingin
Sanomat International Edition, 01.03.2005
|