The European Parliament passed a strongly-worded resolution on Thursday criticising Russia for violating the rights of the Mari people, a Finno-Ugric nation living in the Volga region.

The resolution lists a number of measures taken by Russia and by the administration of the Mari Republic against the indigenous minority. Journalists have been repeatedly beaten and persecuted in the area, and nobody has had to answer for the crimes in court. The Parliament also objects to the lack of education in the Mari language, and that opposition publications must be printed outside of the republic.

Finnish MEP Esko Seppänen (Left) says that bringing the perpetrators of violence to justice would "boost the credibility of Russia as a country under the rule of law". The latest wave of oppressive measures began last year when members of the Mari openly opposed the pro-Kremlin Presidential candidate Leonid Markelov, a supporter of hard-line nationalist politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky.

When Markelov won, the Mari began suffering reprisals in the form of intimidation, job losses, and beatings. Earlier this year, MEPs of the Finno-Ugric countries in the European parliament - Finland, Hungary, and Estonia - drew the body's attention on the plight of the Mari. The latest resolution was rushed through rapidly.

In the debate, MEPs used the occasion to criticise Russia for oppressing minorities throughout history. Poland’s Marcin Libicki felt that it has always been Russian practice to crush minorities, with no attempt to integrate them into the predominant culture. He also accused Russians living in the Baltic states of "hostility" toward the countries in which they live. The resolution will have limited impact at best, because the European Parliament does not answer for the EU’s external relations. The debate on the resolution took place on the afternoon of the last day of the Parliament’s plenary week, when most of the MEPs had already gone home. Also discussed at the time were the human rights situations in Togo and Burma.

Esko Seppänen nevertheless felt that the resolution was an important move, because non-governmental organisations will be able to mention it when bringing out their views. "I don’t think they will be hearing about this in the Kremlin", Seppänen noted.
Another Finnish MEP, Henrik Lax (Swed. People’s Party), says that the Finnish government or President will be able to use the resolution as a "neck brace" in discussions with Russia.

Source: Helsinki Sanomat