The Remarkable Republic of Kalmykia - Russia

April 1998
The murder of journalist Larissa Yudina in Kalmykia in June 98' shocked the whole of Russia. But who runs this strange republic?

In the republic of Kalmykia, Russian politics are at their most barmy - and yet most sinister.

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, the eccentric President, has just announced he'll seek the Russian Presidency in 2000. A multi-millionaire at 35, he's been accused of serious corruption. Kalmykia is an island of Asia inside Europe, where chess is compulsory at school. The economy is based on sheep farming. When the international wool market collapsed, so did Kalmykia's economy.

Campaigning journalist Larissa Yudina tells us Kirsan Ilyumzhinov stole state money destined to sheer up wool industry. Ilyumzhinov tells us it's not true. Larissa's newspaper is the republic's only independent paper and can't be published inside Kalmykia. It faces a constant round of eviction. Larissa also claims Kirsan Ilyumzhinov gained his absolute power over the republic by rigging votes for Yeltsin. Perhaps her brutal murder last week confirms her beliefs.

On the surface, life in Kalmykia is getting merrier by the day, with a revival of both Buddhism and Kalmuck culture. Buddhism was brutally suppressed by the Soviets. But now Kalmykia is becoming Europe's only Buddhist State. It's temple was opened last year by the Dalai Lama. Kalmuck culture was suppressed under communism, but now festivals are being revived.

Ilyumzhinov now plans to exploit Kalmykia's oil, gas and caviar to forge a tiger economy. The bureaucrats from Moscow are clearly impressed - but the jury is still out on the remarkable republic's President.

Produced by ABC Australia
Distributed by Journeyman Pictures

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[beregu]

I proud of Kalmyks. They are part of pure Mongolian in Europe. Although they lived in Europe more than 300 years, they keep alive their cultures. great people with great history

[inno1980]

kalmyk is not china...yellow races does not mean that they are chinese...

[toddlugas]

my brothers sisters long live mongol empire

[DaBigSun]

journeymanpictures  should at lease subtitle Kirsan Ilyumzhinov.

[sportsmenmiami777]

@vallerinos ty 4e goniw,ty 4e oderwimyi? sidi u sebya v aule i ne boltai liwnego,a to 4to nibud da slu4itsya rano ili pozdno, urod ty kaisakskiy. Ya tvoi narod ni vo 4to ne stavil i stavit ne budu, 4urban ty nedodelannyi. idi biwbarmaki svoi xavai i ne pizdi. kaisak.a ved amerikosy molodcy, tut v Miami tak rwali nad BORATOM civilzovannye ludi v otli4ie ot vas. da i ya towe posmeyalsya. kak tam borat saigiev? kaisakskie vyrodki, Vy ne TURKI daleko, vy 4URKI, uzbekskie vykidywi !

[iam1and1isme]

this is such an old video

[vallerinos]

Однин из тупейших людей в верхнем эшелоне власти. У ентих гребанных калмуков другого презика и не могет быть! Это выродки истории сейчас на стадии вымирания и для их успешного исхода с исторической арены ставят вот таких придрков, как илюмжинов. Правильно над стадом баранов надо ставить козла, который их поведет на заклание! Заклание временем! Такая власть гребет только под себя те жалкие отбросы которые бросают сверху ваньки! Народу не достаеться ни чаво! - он медлено деградирует и вымирает...

[gotmituns]

Рыба гнеёт с головы, А голова это Призедент России. Кирсан маленький человечек

[gotmituns]

Under Russian rule, Kalmykia can not really do anything. Same for Chechnya and other puppet states...

[sayyid14]

@beregu Tuva,Saka,Tatarstan,Mongol and other Nation in Russian Turko-Mongol people Should Be Independent and Free..Kuril Island And Sakhalin return to Japan back,

[vallerinos]

Пидар-презик калмуцкай! Гнилая сущность гнилого кулмацкого народца....