The hearings took place on 18 September but Maria Vyushkova published the transcript of her speech on 10 October.
Congressional hearings heard testimony from indigenous activists in Russia, revealing the harsh realities they face. Here are the key points:
Disproportionate losses: Indigenous people from Tuva, Buryatia, and Altai are disproportionately represented in Russian troops and among the dead. For example, the Telengits in Altai face a mortality rate 11.5 times higher than the Russian average.Endangered Cultures: Small nations like the Udege and Nganasans suffer the most. Entire communities are in danger of disappearing due to high mobilization and losses.Broken promises: Despite Russian laws designed to protect indigenous people from compulsory military service, these measures have failed. Mobilization in regions such as Khabarovsk Krai has involved up to 100% of men in some villages.Dangerous Stereotypes: False narratives, such as the alleged mass participation of Buryats in war crimes in Bucha, fuel xenophobia and threaten the security of indigenous people both in Russia and abroad.Political Prisoners: More than 240 indigenous people remain political prisoners in Russia. Their voices must not be forgotten in future prisoner exchanges.
At the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the media reported on the disproportionately high proportion of ethnic minorities being used in Russia’s war against Ukraine. This was pointed out, for example, by the FT. There are widespread media reports that the per capita casualty rate among ethnic minorities is much higher than among soldiers of Slavic origin. Anti-war activist Maria Vyushkova believes that this disproportion still persists.Bashkortostan is the leader in Russia in terms of the number of identified fatalities in the war with Ukraine, and Tatarstan is in fourth place. Bashkortostan is also the leader in regard to “volunteer” losses, and Tatarstan is right behind it.
