Erzyan National Movement Recognizes Holodomor as Act of Genocide

Paul Goble

            Staunton, Nov. 28 – Ukraine’s support for non-Russian nations within the current borders of the Russian Federation is prompting ever more of the members of those nations to support Ukraine in various ways, up to and including dispatching some of their number to fight against Putin’s invasion.

            Others have taken less dramatic but in some ways equally important steps and spoken out on behalf of Ukraine and against Russian repression and aggression. The latest to do so is the Erzyan national movement which has adopted a resolution recognizing the 1932-1933 Holodomor as an act of genocide.

            Two days ago, the Atyan Ezem as the council of elders of the Erzyan people is known, took this step and posted its decision on the website of Syrez Balyayen, the chief elder of the Erzyan people (freenationsleague.org/ru/rzianskoe-natsyonalnoe-dvyzhenye-pryznalo-holodomor-aktom-henotsyda-c18cee3d6e751b660e2832e410da8a3a.html).

            Referring to earlier decisions of the same kind by the parliaments of Ukraine, Estonia and Hungary, the Erzyan national movement recognized the Holodmor as an act of genocide against the Ukrainian people, sent translations of its decision to the Verkhovna Rada, and called for Erzyans to commemorate the anniversary of this action every year at the end of November.

            Vitaly Romashkin, a member of the Atyan Ezem, explains that “the Erzyan do not have their own state and therefore our decrees is an action o the national representative organ, the council of elders.” They took this action at the urging of Erzyans now fighting alongside Ukrainians against the Russian invaders.

            “It is possible,” he continues, “that Ukraine and Ukrainians will not focus attention on our action, but we a re doing this above all on behalf of historical justice … One must not condemn the Muscovite policy of ethnocide against the Erzyans without noting and sharing the pain and suffering that Moscow has inflicted on others.”

            “Therefore,” Romashkin concludes, “this document is important for our own spiritual healing and for overcoming colonial thinking.”