Doc. 10548

12 May 2005

The situation of the Mari minority in the Russian Federation

Motion for a recommendation

presented by Mr Sasi and others

The Republic of Mari is located some 800 kilometers east from Moscow on both sides of the river Volga in the Federation of Russia. The Mari people represent one of several Fenno-Ugrian minorities, whose language and culture risk to disappear.

The general census carried out in the Russian Federation in 2002 revealed that the number of persons belonging to the Fenno-Ugrian minorities in Russia are diminishing. The trend can be seen with regard to all Fenno-Ugrian minorities, but it is especially alarming in the Mari republic. According to the 2002 census the population of the Mari republic is 728 000, of whom 47 % are Russian, 43 % belong to the Mari minority and 10 % other ethnic groups. The Mari people are indigenous people who have lived for centuries in their own land, and have later become a minority in their area.

The situation has deteriorated in recent years and in particular after the election of Leonid Markelov as President of the Republic in 2001. In December 2004 Leonid Markelov was re-elected President of the Mari Republic for a second four year period. Accusations of fraud in connection with the election have further deteriorated the political and social atmosphere after the elections. News have been reported from the area that the use of the Mari language in media (radio, television and the written press) and in education has been reduced and become increasingly difficult. Officials and teachers belonging to the Mari minority have been dismissed from the posts in administration and the freedom of press reduced.

President Markelov has refused to discuss with representatives of the Mari organisations. In February 2005 Vladimir Kozlov (whose name in the Mari language is Laid Shemier), a well-known journalist and chairman of the Mari national congress, was beaten so badly that he was hospitalized. His predecessor Viktor Nikolajev was twice hospitalized for the same reason.

The protection of human rights and the rights of national minorities is one of the core areas of the Council of Europe. The establishment of a Sub Committee on National Minorities within Committee of Legal Affairs and Human Rights is a visible sign of its commitment to monitor the respect for the rights of minorities in Council of Europe member states.

Minorities have the right to the use of their own language and culture. This is particularly important for the indigenous peoples. This right is undermined in the Republic of Mari.

The Russian Federation has signed and ratified the Council of Europe Framework Convention on National Minorities. The Convention reflects the concern of the Council of Europe and its member States about the risk to the existence of national minorities, and clearly states that persons belonging to a national minority shall not be denied the right, in community with the other members of their group, and as far as compatible with public order, to enjoy their own culture, to use their own language, to establish their schools and receive teaching in the language of their choice or to profess and practise their own religion.

Considering the above, the Parliamentary Assembly should react to the alarming news concerning the situation of the Mari minority and propose additional recommendations for actions with the aim to improve the situation of the Mari people and the use of their language in different areas of society and public life as well as the establishment of a constructive dialogue between the minority representatives and the regional administration.

Signed ¹:

SASI, Kimmo, Finland, EPP/CD

ALATALU, Toomas, Estonia, EDG

ANTTILA, Sirkka-Liisa, Finland, LDR

BATET, Meritxell, Spain, SOC

BEMELMANS-VIDEC, Marie-Louise, Netherlands, EPP/CD

BLANKENBORG, Haakon, Norway, SOC

ČEKUOLIS, Jonas, Lithuania, LDR

CIRCENE, Ingrīda, Latvia, EPP/CD

CZINEGE, Imre, Hungary, SOC

ELO, Mikko, Finland, SOC

HERKEL, Andres, Estonia, EPP/CD

HÖGMARK, Anders G., Sweden, EPP/CD

HURSKAINEN, Sinikka, Finland, SOC

HUSEYNOV, Rafael, Azerbaijan, LDR

KAIKKONEN, Antti, Finland, LDR

KOZMA, József, Hungary, SOC

KROHN, Irina, Finland, SOC

LAUKKANEN, Markku, Finland, LDR

LINDBLAD, Göran, Sweden, EPP/CD

LINTONEN, Minna, Finland, SOC

MIHKELSON, Marko, Estonia, EPP/CD

NIELSEN, Jakob-Axel, Denmark, EPP/CD

SAKS, Katrin, Estonia, SOC

SZALAY, Gábor, Hungary, LDR

VAREIKIS, Egidijus, Lithuania, EPP/CD

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group