Russia's Volga Federal District

Volga (Privolzhsky) Federal District is one of the eight federal districts of Russia. It forms the southeastern part of European Russia. It contains some of Russia's largest cities and its population was 31,154,744 (70.4% urban) according to the 2002 Census . Grigory Rapota was appointed the federal district's Presidential Envoy on May 12, 2008.

Link to Wikipedia article

The Republic of Bashkortostan is a federal subject of Russia (a republic) located between the Volga River and the Ural Mountains. Its capital is Ufa. The population is quite diverse, with Russains constituting about 1/3 of the population, and Bashkirs(a Turkic people) about 1/4. The Bashkir are predominantly Muslim, and the Russians predominantly Orthodox Christians. The Republic is a major producer and processor of crude oil, chemicals and plastics. It is also heavily forested.

Link to Wikipedia article
Link to web site of celebration of 450 years voluntary unification with Russia (2007)
Link to Republic's web site
Link to Ufa City web site
Link to Bashkortostan's Export Portal

Kirov Oblast is a federal subject of Russia (an oblast). Its administrative center is the city of Kirov.

Link to Wikipedia Article
Kirov Region
Kirov City

Mari El Republic is a federal subject of Russia (a republic). Mari El's indigenous Mari people are undergoing what most neutral observers see as ethnic persecution. The Mari have lived in the area probably for millenia. Some still practice "the old religion" (a version of paganism), others "the Mari religion" which is a syncretic religion with elements of the old religion and Christianity. Many diplomats,the European Parliament and the UNHCR are calling for inside and outside pressure to end the repression and forced Russification of the Mari. However the President of Mari El, Leonid Markelov, continues to pursue a basically anti-Mari policy of "modernization" including, for example, even the revamping of the Republic's symbols, flags and logos to "better represent the modern Republic" and its mixed ethnicities.

Link to Wikipedia Article
Link to web site of Mari El government
Link to web site of Yoshkar-Ola city
Link to Wikipedia web site about the Mari people