Thread by @VolodyaTretyak

Thread Chuvashia #RussiaDecolonized
Welcome to the seventh thread in our series, where we explore the future prospects of republics within Russia.

HISTORY

Chuvash people are considered the modern-day descendants of the Volga Bulgars, who had the Volga Bulgaria state in medieval times. The Bulgars belonged to the Turkic family, while Chuvash culture was also influenced by other cultures such as Finno-Ugric and Slavic. /1

Chuvashia's land became part of the Russian Tsardom around the same time as Tatarstan. Chuvashia, along with other neighboring regions, faced Russification and Christianization policies.
/2

https://twitter.com/VolodyaTretyak/status/1659656956099936256?s=20

Today, most Chuvash people are Orthodox Christians, while a minority practice Islam. During the time of Russian conquest, most Chuvash practiced pagan beliefs, and traces of these traditions can still be seen in their cultural activities. /3

Under the Russian empire, Chuvashia belonged to the Kazan Governorate, and in the Soviet Union, the Chuvash ASSR was established. /4

In the post-Soviet era, Chuvashia's history followed a similar pattern to most republics: there were significant uprisings for the preservation of culture and language in the 90s, followed by stagnation from the 2000s due to policies introduced by Putin. /5

The Chuvash language is considered vulnerable by linguists but not endangered, thanks to relatively large Chuvash population. The situation has worsened over the last 20 years, as each new generation has fewer opportunities to study in their own language. /6

GEOGRAPHY
Chuvashia is located in the Volga region and has access to the Volga River. It shares borders with various federal subjects, including other Idel-Ural republics and oblasts. /7

Chuvashia benefits from a developed infrastructure, which is attributed to its location and the fact that it is a densely populated republic. /8

ECONOMY
In terms of GDP, Chuvashia ranks among the last 20 federal subjects out of 83. Its economy relies on both the industrial sector and agriculture, which play important roles. /9

Compared to its neighbors in the Volga region, Chuvashia lags behind in terms of economic development. A comparison of average income depicted on a map shows that Chuvashia's average income is around 232 euros. /10

Overall, the question arises as to why Chuvashia has been unable to establish a stronger economy and what constraints it faces. According to the World Bank portal, Chuvashia has the potential to grow economically. /11

POPULATION
The current republic has a relatively small percentage of Russians, but the number of Chuvash people is decreasing dramatically. This could potentially be attributed to education laws where the Russian language dominates. /12

It's important to note that in 2021, several generations were born under Putin's rule, completed high school, and became adults. Also the data should be taken with a grain of salt since it comes from Russia and cannot be independently verified. /13

Additionally, it should be noted that hundreds of thousands of Chuvash people reside outside of the republic. This is a result of the Soviet policy of "incorrect borders," where nations were often divided between different republics or districts, facilitating assimilation. /14

FREEDOM MOVEMENTS
During the 19th and early 20th centuries, national sentiments began to rise among the Chuvash intelligentsia. They established connections with other pro-independence movements of minority groups in the middle Volga region. /15

On May 15, 1917, the Chuvash people joined the Idel-Ural Movement, and later that year, in December, they became part of the short-lived Idel-Ural State. /16

In 1991, Atner Khuzangai, the son of the renowned Chuvash writer Petr Khuzangai, participated in the presidential elections and emerged victorious in the second round with 46% of the votes. His program focused on strengthening autonomy. /17

However, he did not become president because the law required a majority of over 50% of votes. /18

A few years later, Nikolay Fedorov won the subsequent election. He served the Kremlin well, and after 15 years of presidency, he held several high-ranking positions in the government, such as Minister of Agriculture and Chairman of the Federation Council. /19

Meanwhile, Atner Khuzangai did not support the occupation of Crimea and in 2018, he stated that the Chuvash people should become a subject of international law. However, he still saw Chuvashia as a part of Russia. /20

Overall, many national organizations were either banned or assimilated by the government, and now they can only organize traditional events.

There are several other activists and movements advocating for independence, but as of today, these movements appear relatively small. /21

In this context, the Free Idel Ural movement is also significant, as its objective is to establish a confederation of the six Volga republics.
/22

https://twitter.com/VolodyaTretyak/status/1659657024492150819?s=20

CONCLUSION
The chances of Chuvashia becoming independent appear uncertain, hinging on regional developments. Nevertheless, the situation can shift rapidly if Moscow's influence weakens. /23

Chuvashia stands out as the republic with the highest proportion of indigenous population in the Volga region. /24

The people of #Chuvashia should consider measures to preserve their cultural identity and promote the development of their land. Exploring the path towards independence is the way to achieve these objectives. /25

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