Paul Goble
Staunton, Oct. 23 – On October 17, the FSB sought to decapitate the Erzyan independence movement by arresting and bringing charges against its most senior leaders; but two days later, the Erzyan movement showed no signs of backing down and called for all non-Russians to seek independence from Moscow and Russians and the West to support them.
More than 10 of the top leaders of the Erzyan national movement, the most active and radical of such movements among the Finno-Ugric nations within the borders of the Russian Federation, were arrested (idel-ural.org/archives/v-mordovii-massovye-oblavy-na-doma-erzyanskih-aktivistov/#more-21697 and ria.ru/20231023/delo-1904628415.html).
But instead of intimidating the Erzya as Moscow intended, these arrests appear to have further radicalized the movement which issued a sweeping appeal to the Erzya, other non-Russians and the West. Below is the text of the appeal (abn.org.ua/en/liberation-movements/appeal-from-the-council-of-elders-of-the-erzyan-people/):
Erzyans! Friends!
The Russian government, which started a war against Ukraine in 2014, is today waging a war against the entire civilized world and understands that it is not capable of winning it. In addition, she understands that losing the war guarantees the Russian government not only political death, but also the Verdict of the International Tribunal. Russian leaders will be tried as war criminals, so Putin and his gang decided to go to the end and drag as many countries and peoples into this war as possible. Hundreds of thousands of people died! Millions may die, but the Kremlin rats don’t care. Today they are in a hurry to put the economy on a war footing. This means that soon children will have to stand at the machines and adults will go to war and war will come to every Russian home! This despite the fact that no one attacked Russia.
In order for the war to end and for people to stop dying, it is enough to withdraw Russian troops from foreign territories. No one is going to pursue them to Moscow or to the Urals. It is pointless! The end of the war will bring relief to the entire population of the Russian Federation, but the Russian authorities are awaiting the International Tribunal. That’s why today she is trying to share responsibility for her crimes with every Russian. Hence these wild calls: “Become Russian”! To realize their criminal plans, the authorities need an obedient population, they need people who are afraid. Only this can explain the arrests and detentions that have swept the Russian Federation. The regime is afraid of disobedient people who are capable of drawing people’s attention to the lies and atrocities of the authorities!
We appeal to those who have experienced repression by the security forces: do not be afraid! First of all: you are not to blame for anything! To want the continuation of life for your people, to preserve your language is not a crime, but a dignity! The desire to be free is not a crime, it is a natural quality of Man! Stay Human! Secondly: the authorities themselves are afraid and with your fear you feed the executioners’ sense of impunity. They are afraid of proud people! And thirdly: -this power is not forever. Even if the ruling regime today seems indestructible. Few people believed in the collapse of the Soviet Union also. Very soon, fair people’s courts will bring to justice those who today scare your children, interrogate and judge the innocent. We appeal to all nations whom satraps force to carry out Moscow’s will. In fact, Moscow and its local minions are afraid of us! We are the very needle in which the death of the Russian Koshchei lies! He is not immortal at all. He is mortal, he is afraid and therefore he is in a hurry to turn us into Russians! It’s disgusting when people, spitting on the ashes of their ancestors, dancing on their graves, bleat like sheep: “I’m Russian”! In order to survive, we need fearlessness! We must unite, look for allies and, most importantly, we need to understand that the Russian government is our enemy! Not an adversary, not a rival – an enemy!
We turn to the civilized world!
We often hear voices advocating the preservation of the Russian Federation, who express concern that the collapse of this monster will lead to unnecessary troubles! You are “concerned” about the fate of our executioner! But what about democratic, universal principles and values? What about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights? Russia will collapse anyway, and it will be sooner rather than later. But we realize that she will have enough time to destroy many of us. Your concern does not extend to the powerless existence of millions of non-Russians. Over the past ten years, there have been 200,000 fewer Erzyans alone. The price for your “peace of mind” is the lives of our nations, and it is growing rapidly! You can, you are strong, you are fair, pay attention to our position, unless your conversations about principles and values are pompous but empty declarations!
We appeal to Russian employees, officials, and security forces. Think about your future. Don’t let yourself be put in the same dock as Russian war criminals. You will need to move on with your life, work, and raise your children. Do not darken your future with today’s crimes, and only then will it be bright for you!
For background on the Erzya, a nation that Moscow views as part of the Mordvin nation, and its recent activism, see windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2023/05/erzya-national-movement-most-active-and.html,windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2023/01/putin-pursuing-russification-only-as.html, windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2022/11/erzyan-national-movement-recognizes.html, windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2022/10/erzya-congress-calls-for-pursuing.html, windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2022/09/russian-repression-forces-finno-ugric.html, windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2022/08/erzyan-emigre-leader-calls-on-west-to.html, windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2021/04/erzya-can-survive-pandemic-but-not.html, windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2020/03/as-mordvins-approach-majority-status-in.html and windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2019/10/ethnic-divisions-among-those-moscow.html.)
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