I represent the Karelian National Movement, as well as the Karelian combat group, the Karelian Battalion NORD. Both of these initiatives advocate for the right of the nationalities of the North to self-determination, for the creation of an independent Karelia, as well as for the international recognition of the acts of genocide, ethnocide, linguocide and ecocide committed against the indigenous nations of the North and the descendants of forcibly repressed people. In addition, our activities are aimed at supporting related nations.
The history of the Karelian movement dates back to the beginning of the 20th century. Already in 1906, the first initiatives to develop Karelian identity appeared in the territory of the Grand Duchy of Finland. After the revolutions and wars, a significant part of the Karelian intelligentsia emigrated. Only during the perestroika period, in the 1980s, did cultural and public organisations arise that aimed to revive Karelian culture and identity. It was then that the Karelian National Movement, which I represent today, appeared.
Of course, given the history and geography, the states of the Baltic region and Fennoscandia are of particular importance for the development of Finno-Ugric contacts. In particular, Estonia and Finland remain the most important partners in humanitarian and cultural interaction. Within the concept of the “Karelianisation” of the security of Northern Europe, the idea of a kind of northern shield from the expansionist policy of the Kremlin is sometimes considered.
The Karelian national movement seeks to build humanitarian bridges between Karelians, Vepsians and Ingermanlanders with Finland and Estonia, as well as between Pomors and Kola Norwegians from Norway. In this context, Karelia, like the neighbouring regions of Ingermanland and Pomorie, acts as a kind of crossroads of Nordic and Finno-Ugric cultures, the historical roots of which reach far into the Volga-Ural region.
Another important direction is the development of cultural and political dialogue with Hungary. We believe that the indigenous Finno-Ugric nationalities of Eurasia can play the role of a kind of bridge between Budapest and Kyiv. In the conditions of war and the transformation of the political architecture of Europe, such humanitarian diplomacy becomes especially important. By talking about the situation of Finno-Ugric peoples in Russia and interacting, in particular, with the Hungarian community of Transcarpathia, we can contribute to the formation of a space for dialogue.
Speaking of the war, one cannot fail to mention the Karelian, and today largely all-Finno-Hungarian volunteer battalion NORD. Continuing the historical tradition of the Karelian resistance — from the uprising of nineteen twenty-two to the volunteer units of the Continuation War period — today the battalion can be found among the members of the battalion representatives of various Finno-Hungarian nationalities. Among the volunteers, there are also people from Scandinavia and Hungary, as well as those whose families in the past were subjected to repression by the Soviet authorities and who express solidarity with the idea of liberating the Finno-Hungarian lands.
In parallel, the people’s militia “Northern Brotherhood” operates on the ground – an independent structure that conducts independent partisan activities in the area from Karelia to the Urals.
Speaking of ethnic activists, one cannot help but mention those who have already suffered for their beliefs.
Among them is Antti Vasyurenko, a descendant of repressed Ukrainians and Karelians, a participant in the Karelian resistance, who was sentenced to nine years in prison by the Russian authorities. We are grateful to the Anti-Imperial Block of Nations for supporting efforts to free him.
Another tragic example is Andriy Lazhiev, a 19-year-old conscript from Karelia. He refused to participate in the war in 2022, and his social media page was found to have calls for a joint struggle between Ukraine and Karelia against Moscow. The young man was later tortured and killed by Kremlin security forces.
We are committed to cooperating with Ukraine in the fight for our and your freedom!
