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Oirat-Kalmyk People's Congress

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Oirat-Kalmyk People's Congress
Конгресс ойрат-калмыцкого народа
Chuulhn
ChairpersonA.B. Sandzhyiev
Founded12 December 2015 (2015-12-12)
HeadquartersElista
IdeologyKalmyk nationalism
Party flag
Website
https://oiratcongress.org

The Oirat-Kalmyk People's Congress (Russian: Конгресс ойрат-калмыцкого народа), also known as the Chuulhn (Oirat: Чуулһн, romanized: Çuulhn, Oirat pronunciation: [t͡ʃuːlˈɣən]) in Kalmyk Oirat Mongolian, is an unregistered organization claiming to represent the Kalmyk people or broadly people of Kalmykia.

History

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While the organization has its roots in Kalmyk nationalist organizations from the Soviet era, the first congress of the Oirat-Kalmyk people took place on 12 December 2015, in Elista, the capital city of Kalmykia, with around 200 popular delegates participating in total.[1][2] A total of 3 congresses have been convened since 2015, the latest in May 2021.[3]

Russo-Ukrainian war

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During the 2022 Russo-Ukrainian war the organization came out against the war publicly. The chairman of the congress, A.B. Sandzhyiev, stated that over the past 400 years Kalmyks participated in all military conflicts on the side of Russia, but that they cannot support a war with Ukraine.[4] The People's Congress further stated that the war is harming the Kalmyk genetic pool for an "insane massacre in Ukraine", urging Kalmyks not to participate in the conflict.[5]

On 27 October 2022, the Congress published a declaration of independence of Kalmykia and proclaimed the creation of an independent Kalmyk state.[6]

Ideology and activity

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The main stated reason for the gathering of the congress was the issue of statehood, which Kalmykia, unlike all of Russia's other republics, does not legally possess.[7] Other things that the congress sought to address were the right to Self-Determination, making the use of the Kalmyk-Oirat language obligatory in areas defined by local and federal laws, establishing a new constitution for the republic, as well as other economic, demographic, and political issues facing the Kalmyk people.[8][9]

The organization has also politically campaigned against Batu Khasikov's rule of Kalmykia and Dmitry Trapeznikov position as mayor of Elista, due to perceived incompetence and corruption.[10] After large-scale protests, the Kremlin denied it was behind Trapeznikov's appointment to mayor.[11]

Another change the congress has pushed for is the resolvation of the territorial disputes between Kalmykia and Astrakhan Oblast by returning the historically Kalmyk Dolbansky [ru] and Volga [ru] uluses (districts) which were transferred to Astrakhan under Stalin's leadership following the deportation of Kalmyks in 1943.[12][13][5]

Following the start of the Russo-Ukrainian War in 2022, the Oirat-Kalmyk People's Congress joined hands with other separatist groups, the Free Idel-Ural movement and Buryat Mongols to form the "Free Nations League". The stated goal of the league is to protect the rights of nations held captive by Russia. Vladimir Dovdanov, a Kalmyk representative in the league, stated that what is most important is that Kalmyks are seen as subjects of the state, rather than disposable objects.[9][14]

State persecution

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Numerous incidents of Oirat-Kalmyk People's Congress members being persecuted have been claimed by activists. The organizers of the congress were detained following a convocation in 2021.[15][16] An Elista court then assigned them 50 hours of compulsory work for holding an unsanctioned public event.[13] Members of the organization have also been branded as agents of Kyiv by the Russian government, being arrested after accusations of espionage.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "Russia's regions: federalism and its discontents". openDemocracy. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  2. ^ a b Rahman, Mahabubur (16 April 2022). "In the mayor's office of Elista, an official worked for the Kyiv regime from his office". Oops Top. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  3. ^ "Kalmykia: Russia's Emerging Powder Keg?". Jamestown Foundation. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  4. ^ "How the War in Ukraine Catalyzed a Re-awakening of National Identity Among Russia's Indigenous Peoples | Free Russia Foundation". Free Russia Foundation. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Kalmyk people congress – let oligarchs and their children fight!". Free Idel-Ural. 10 March 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  6. ^ "Конгресс ойрат-калмыцкого народа опубликовал декларацию о независимости Калмыкии" [The Oirat-Kalmyk People's Congress published a declaration on the independence of Kalmykia]. Idel Real (in Russian). 28 October 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  7. ^ "Republic of Kalmykia » Kalmyks gather for a national congress to discuss the issue of statehood". Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  8. ^ "Обращение Исполкома Съезда ойрат-калмыцкого народа" [Address of the Executive Committee of the Congress of the Oirat-Kalmyk people]. Элистинский Курьер. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  9. ^ a b Chraibi, Christine (24 May 2022). "League of Free Nations: Indigenous activists from Russia to fight for independence from Moscow". Euromaidan Press.
  10. ^ "На съезде ойрат-калмыцкого народа потребовали отставки Хасикова" [Khasikov's resignation was demanded at the congress of the Oirat-Kalmyk people]. RFE/RL (in Russian). Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  11. ^ Times, The Moscow (2 October 2019). "Russian Town Rallies Against New Mayor From Rebel-Held Eastern Ukraine". The Moscow Times. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  12. ^ "Kalmyks accused Russian authorities of hidden ethnocide, Moscow responded with arrests". InformNapalm.org (English). 19 June 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  13. ^ a b "Организаторам съезда ойрат-калмыцкого народа назначили обязательные работы" [The organizers of the congress of the Oirat-Kalmyk people were assigned compulsory work]. RFE/RL (in Russian). Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  14. ^ "Ukraine war could lead to break-up of Russia – interview". lrt.lt. 20 June 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  15. ^ Byurchiev, Badma (12 June 2021). "Activists state persecutions after congress of Oirat-Kalmyk nationals in Elista". Caucasian Knot.
  16. ^ "Еще двоих активистов задержали за организацию Съезда ойрат" [Two more activists were detained for organizing the Congress of the Oirat-Kalmyk people]. kalmykia-online.ru (in Russian). 30 May 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
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