Russia: Information on ethnic Russians in the Republic of Komi, in particular in the city of Syktyvkar
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 January 1994 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | RUS16243.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Russia: Information on ethnic Russians in the Republic of Komi, in particular in the city of Syktyvkar, 1 January 1994, RUS16243.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6abab1c.html [accessed 25 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to The Current Digest of the Soviet Press, 23.3 per cent of the total population in komi are komi and 57.7 per cent are Russian (26 June 1991). Facts on File also indicates that Komi people represent 23 per cent of the total population in Komi (1993, 5.35).
A specialist on Russian linguistics in Moscow translated information provided by an ethnologist at the Institute of Anthropology and Ethnology in Moscow who specializes on the northern republics of the former Soviet Union (25 Jan. 1994). The ethnologist stated that there was no ethnic tension in Komi between ethnic Russians and Komi people, a situation which he ascribes to the intermingled history of both groups and the Komi's assimilation into Russian culture (25 Jan. 1994).
An analyst at RFE/RL indicated that many factors had to be taken into account when looking at the situation of ethnic Russians in Komi, namely (1) ethnic Russians easily outnumber Komi people; (2) Russian and Komi are the official languages; (3) Russian culture and language are dominant; (4) there is one Russian and one Komi representative in each of the upper and lower houses in Moscow; and (5) Russians still hold many high positions in Komi (26 Jan. 1994; 27 Jan. 1994). The source stated that "considering the above factors, it is difficult to maintain that Russians are discriminated against, even slightly" (26 Jan. 1994). The source added that it is possible that some form of affirmative action programme exist for the Komi people and that these might be viewed as discriminatory (27 Jan. 1994).
The same source indicated that a Russian House society was created in reaction to a nationalist Komi movement that asked for more language and political powers for Komi people, but he could not provide further information on either movements (ibid.). According to Moscow News, there is a struggle among the Komi population over language and political rights (7 Apr. 1993). The source indicates that a Russian House society for the "protection of the rights of Russians" emerged in Syktyvkar in reaction to the Committee for Renaissance of the Komi People (ibid.). The source indicates that the Committee for Renaissance of the Komi People is dissatisfied with the ethnic composition of the republic's leadership and aims at propagating the Komi language (ibid.). The source also states that the Russian House society believes that the Committee is financed by the republic's Council of Ministers (ibid.).
Moscow News states that, according to unofficial reports, bonuses are available for Komi-speaking individuals in certain enterprises (ibid.). The source further indicates that the authorities deny such reports and state that so far there has been no sponsoring of language programmes because of financial difficulties (ibid.).
Of further interest might be the attached article from The Current Digest of the Post-Soviet Press which reports on a debate between political scientist Ksenia Myalo and Valery Tishkov, director of the Russian Academy of Sciences Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, about the role of Russians in Russia and the CIS. Tishkov reportedly argued that "in Komi and Chukotka, the Russian-Ukrainian economic elite controls everything, it uses slogan of national self-determination but in actuality is building itself a northern Kuwait or El Dorado" (26 May 1993).
This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
CIS and Eastern Europe on File. 1993. New York: Facts on File.
The Current Digest of the Post-Soviet Press [Culumbus]. 26 May 1993. "What Is the Place of Russians in Russia, CIS."
. 26 June 1991. "Ethnic Data for Russia's Autonomous Units."
Moscow News. 7 April 1993. Dmitri Ukhlin. "Road Towards Vorkuta's Freedom."
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) Research Institute. 27 January 1994. Telephone interview with analyst.
. 26 January 1994. Telephone interview with analyst.
Specialist on Russian linguistics, University of Moscow, Moscow. 25 January 1994. Telephone interview.
Attachments
CIS and Eastern Europe on File. 1993. New York: Facts on File.
The Current Digest of the Post-Soviet Press [Culumbus]. 26 May 1993. "What Is the Place of Russians in Russia, CIS."
. 26 June 1991. "Ethnic Data for Russia's Autonomous Units."
Moscow News. 7 April 1993. Dmitri Ukhlin. "Road Towards Vorkuta's Freedom."
