The Republic of Karelia (Karel. Karjalan tašavalta, Liv. Karjalan
tazavaldu, Finnish. Karjalan tasavalta, Veps. Karjalan Tazovaldkund;
short names: Karelia, Karjala) is a constituent entity of the Russian
Federation, a republic in its composition. It is part of the
Northwestern Federal District, is part of the Northern Economic Region.
The capital is the city of Petrozavodsk.
The republic was
formed in 1920 as the Karelian Labor Commune, on July 25, 1923 it was
transformed into the Autonomous Karelian Socialist Soviet Republic
within the RSFSR (since December 5, 1936 - the Karelian Autonomous
Soviet Socialist Republic). On March 31, 1940, by a decree of the
Supreme Soviet of the USSR, it was renamed the Karelian-Finnish SSR and
withdrawn from the RSFSR. Since July 16, 1956 - again a subject within
the RSFSR. On August 9, 1990, the Supreme Council of the Republic
adopted the Declaration of State Sovereignty, and on November 13, 1991,
established its modern name - the Republic of Karelia.
The
western border of Karelia is part of the state border of the Russian
Federation and Finland. In the east, Karelia borders on the Arkhangelsk
region, in the south - on the Vologda and Leningrad regions, in the
north - on the Murmansk region.
National language - Russian.
Languages that enjoy state support in the republic: Karelian (not one of
the state languages of the republic due to the lack of an alphabet based
on Cyrillic), Finnish and Veps.
White Sea Karelia - the northern part of Karelia from the border with
Finland to the coast of the White Sea; Karelian Pomorye.
Loukhsky,
Kemsky, Kalevalsky, Belomorsky districts and Kostomuksha urban district
Olonets Karelia is a region that includes the central and southern
parts of Karelia: Prionezhye, Zaonezhye, Vygoretsia, Segozerye,
Kolodozero, Syamozerye, Pryazhinsky inter-lake area.
Kondopozhsky,
Medvezhyegorsky, Muezersky, Olonetsky, Prionezhsky, Pryazhinsky,
Segezhsky, Suoyarvsky districts and Petrozavodsk city district
Ladoga Karelia or Northern or Karelian Ladoga Region is a region on the
northern coast of Lake Ladoga.
Sortavala, Lahdenpokh and Pitkyaranta
regions
Pudozhskaya Karelia - The eastern part of Karelia from
Lake Onega to the Arkhangelsk region: Vodlozerye, Salmozero.
Pudozhsky district
Petrozavodsk is the capital of the
Republic of Karelia, located on the shores of the Petrozavodsk Bay of
Lake Onega.
Belomorsk is the administrative center of the Belomorsky
region of Karelia. It is located on the western coast of the White Sea,
at the mouth of the Vyg River, 376 km north of Petrozavodsk. End point
of the White Sea-Baltic Canal.
Kem is the
administrative center of the Kemsky district of Karelia. Located on the
Kem River, at its confluence with the White Sea
Kondopoga is the
administrative center of the Kondopoga region of Karelia. The city is
located on the shores of the Kondopoga Bay of Lake Onega, 50 km north of
Petrozavodsk.
Kostomuksha is the
administrative center of the Kostomuksha urban district. It is located
in the north-west of Karelia, 35 kilometers from the Russian-Finnish
border.
Lahdenpokhya is the administrative center of the Lahdenpokhya
region of Karelia. It is located in the south-west of Karelia, on the
shores of the Yakimvar Bay of Lake Ladoga.
Medvezhyegorsk is the
administrative center of the Medvezhyegorsk region of Karelia. It is
located on the shore of Lake Onega, 152 km north of Petrozavodsk.
Olonets is the administrative center of the
Olonets region of Karelia. It is located 140 km southwest of
Petrozavodsk.
Pitkyaranta is the administrative center of the
Pitkyaranta region of Karelia. Located on the northern shore of Lake
Ladoga in the southwestern part of Karelia.
Pudozh is the
administrative center of the Pudozh region of Karelia. It is located on
the banks of the Vodla River, 25 km from its confluence with Lake Onega,
in the southeastern part of Karelia.
Segezha is the administrative
center of the Segezha region of Karelia. It is located on the
northwestern shore of Lake Vygozero, 267 km north of Petrozavodsk.
Sortavala is the administrative center of
the Sortavala region of Karelia. It is located on the northern shore of
Lake Ladoga, 240 km west of Petrozavodsk.
Suoyarvi is the
administrative center of the Suoyarvi region of Karelia. It is located
on the southern shore of Lake Suoyarvi, 130 km northwest of
Petrozavodsk.
Valaam is an island on Lake Ladoga that sheltered the
Valaam Monastery
and the Valaam Archipelago natural museum-reserve.
Cathedrals in
Kizhi is an open-air museum on an island in the northern part of Lake
Onega, where masterpieces of wooden architecture of Karelia are
collected.
The Vodlozersky National Park
is a biosphere reserve in the eastern part of Karelia (Pudozhsky
district).
Paanajärvi National Park is a national park in the
northwestern part of Karelia (Loukhsky district), a specially protected
natural area.
Ruskeala is an unremarkable village, on the outskirts
of which there are several small waterfalls and the flooded Ruskeala
marble quarry. On the basis of the quarry, the Ruskeala mountain park is
equipped.
Kalevalsky National Park is located in the northern part of
Karelia on the border with Finland.
Kivach is a nature reserve in the
Kondopoga region of Karelia, the central object of which is the
Kivach Waterfall.
Marcial Waters is a balneological and mud resort in the Kondopoga region
of Karelia.
White Sea
Belomorsk Petroglyphs are rock art located in the
Belomorsky region of Karelia, on the islands of the Vyg River. Dated to
IV-III millennium BC
Kuzova is an island archipelago in the White
Sea, east of the city of Kem.
The Ladoga skerries are a group of
islands and fjords in the northern part of Lake Ladoga.
The state language of Karelia is Russian. At the same time, national
minorities live in the republic: Finns, Karelians and Vepsians, who have
their own languages and script.
Karelian, Finnish, Vepsian
languages have an official status and can be used in local governments.
Theaters of Petrozavodsk
Musical Theater of the Republic of
Karelia
National Theater of the Republic of Karelia
Puppet theater
of the Republic of Karelia
Youth Theater "Creative Workshop"
Non-state author's theater "Ad Liberum"
Routes
The
international tourist route "Blue Road" passes through the republic,
connecting Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. In Russia, it passes only
through the territory of Karelia, crossing it from west to east (and
following the cities of Vyartsilya A130 (Olonets) - Kolatselga -
Palalahta - Kukkoyla - Yurgilitsa - Vedlozero - Shchekkila - Kutchezero
- Kroshnozero - Manga - Yarn P21 - Sailors - Half - Petrozavodsk -
Kondopoga - Medvezhyegorsk A119 - Povenets - Pudozh).
Main
attractions on the route:
Lake Ladoga is the largest freshwater lake
in Europe
Valaam Monastery is an Orthodox male monastery located on
the islands of the Valaam archipelago.
Petrozavodsk is the capital
and largest city of Karelia
Kizhi is a museum of wooden architecture,
which has the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Lake Onega is
the second largest freshwater reservoir in Europe.
Kondopoga - in the
vicinity: the first Russian resort, founded by Peter I in 1719 on the
basis of ferruginous mineral springs - "Marcial Waters", as well as the
nature reserve "Kivach"
Medvezhyegorsk - in the vicinity: the White
Sea-Baltic Canal, connecting the White Sea with Lake Onega, 227 km long
and one of the largest burial places in the North-West of Russia for the
victims of Stalinist repressions in Sandarmokh (12 km from
Medvezhyegorsk)
Pudozh - in the vicinity: rock art dating back to the
4th-3rd millennium BC - Onega petroglyphs, as well as the Vodlozersky
National Park
Active pastime
In late spring - early summer,
rafting is possible along the main river of the republic - Shuya.
Throughout the spring-summer season, rivers throughout almost the entire
territory of Karelia are very popular among water tourists, both amateur
and commercial groups. In winter, you can visit several republican ski
resorts: Yalgora (on the shore of Yalguba Bay near Petrozavodsk), Malaya
Medvezhka (in Medvezhyegorsk), Gorka (in Petrozavodsk).
Multi-day
and one-day dog sled tours are popular, they are organized by the Kudama
sled dog kennel and the Karjala Park complex (30 km from Petrozavodsk).
By plane
The main airport of Karelia is located in Petrozavodsk,
12 km north-west of the city, and bears the name of the same name with
the city or in old memory Besovets (IATA:PES)[1]. Accepts flights from
Moscow, Arkhangelsk, Anapa and Cherepovets. From international flights,
air communication is carried out from Helsinki.
By train
The
Volkhovstroy 1-Murmansk railway line runs through Karelia from south to
north. Main stations: Petrozavodsk, Kondopoga, Medvezhya Gora, Segezha,
Nadvoitsy, Idel, Belomorsk, Kem, Engozero, Loukhi. From Moscow, this is
the most accessible railway direction.
From St. Petersburg,
trains also run to Petrozavodsk through the Karelian Isthmus and the
stations of the Northern Ladoga region.
From Arkhangelsk through
Belomorsk and Kem, trains transit through Karelia to Murmansk.
Local trains run from Petrozavodsk to stations lying away from the main
railway lines, for example, to Kostomuksha.
By car
The main
highway passing through the territory of Karelia is St.
Petersburg-Murmansk M18, E105. The route crosses the border with Karelia
in the south at the Lodeinoye Pole-Olonets section, then goes to
Petrozavodsk and Kondopoga, passes not far to the west of Segezha and
Kemi, and in the north of Karelia crosses the border with the Murmansk
region near Kandalaksha Bay. The roadbed of the track has a surface that
is different from most Russian tracks for the better.
You can
also enter Karelia using a large number of local roads. It is advisable
to use such routes if the traveler wants to get to Pudozh or Ladoga
Karelia and drives an SUV.
On the ship
The waterways of
Karelia, in part of Lake Onega and the Svir River, are an important part
of the Volga-Baltic waterway. The White Sea-Baltic Canal is located
entirely on the territory of Karelia.
Ports on Lake Onega:
Petrozavodsk, Kondopoga, Medvezhyegorsk, Povenets
Ports on Lake
Ladoga: Pitkyaranta and Sortavala
Ports on the White Sea: Kem and
Belomorsk
All cruise ships on the routes Moscow-St.
Petersburg-Moscow, cruises from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Solovki
make a stop at key points in Karelia.
There is no external
regular sea communication, there are local lines that carry out
transportation along the waters of Lake Ladoga and Onega, and along the
White Sea, for example, from Kem to the Solovetsky Islands.
The origin of the name of the republic - Karjala - is not fully
understood, but it is assumed that it may come from the Proto-Finnish
word *karja "cattle", borrowed from the Proto-Germanic *harjaz ("army,
army"); the ending -la means "earth" (cf. Kalevala, Pohjola).
According to another assumption, the word comes from the Baltic fire
"mountain".
The Republic of Karelia is located in Northern Europe, in the
northwestern part of Russia, bordered by the White Sea in the northeast.
From north to south, the length is 660 km, and from west to east - 424
km.
The main relief of the republic is a hilly plain, turning in
the west into the West Karelian Upland. The glacier, retreating to the
north, greatly changed the relief of Karelia - moraine ridges, eskers,
kams, lake basins appeared in many.
The highest point of the
Republic of Karelia is Mount Nuorunen.
Summer in Karelia at 21:00 The sun is just starting to set
The
Republic of Karelia is located in the time zone designated by the
international standard as Moscow Time Zone (MSK). The offset from UTC is
+3:00.
Karelian weather is changeable. The climate is mild, with an abundance of precipitation, changing in the territory of Karelia from maritime to temperate continental. Winter is snowy, cool, but usually without severe frosts; if frosts come, then only for a few days. Summers are short and warm, with high rainfall. Even in June, frosts sometimes occur in the republic (very rarely). Heat is rare and occurs for two to three weeks in the southern regions, but due to high humidity, it is noticeable even at 20 ° C. In the northern regions, heat is extremely rare and lasts no more than a few days.
Subsoil resources of Karelia include:
489 explored deposits,
31
types of solid minerals,
386 peat deposits,
14 underground water
deposits for household and drinking purposes,
2 deposits of mineral
waters (for example, springs in the village of Marcialnye Vody),
10
officially recognized and over 200 recorded geological monuments.
Main minerals: iron ore, titanium, vanadium, molybdenum, precious
metals, diamonds, mica, building materials (granites, diabases,
marbles), ceramic raw materials (pegmatites, spar), apatite-carbonate
ores, alkaline amphibole-asbestos.
As of September 1, 2004, the
distributed subsoil fund in the Republic of Karelia included 606 active
licenses: for precious metals and diamonds - 14, solid non-common
minerals - 16, block stone - 94, building stone for the production of
crushed stone - 76, other common minerals ( mainly sand and gravel
materials) - 286, groundwater - 120.
More than 600 deposits have
been put on the balance sheet. Of these, 378 - peat, 77 - sand and
gravel material, 38 - natural facing stone, 34 - building stone, 27 -
sheet muscovite, 26 - feldspar raw materials, 21 - building sands, 13 -
groundwater, 9 - milky white quartz , 8 - ore raw materials (iron ores,
vanadium, tin, molybdenum), 8 - clays, 7 - small-sized muscovite, 3 -
kyanite ores, 7 - mineral paints, 4 - sulfur-pyrite ores, 3 - raw
materials for mineral wool, 1 - shungite, 1 - raw materials for stone
casting, 1 - quartzite, 1 - dolomites for metallurgy, 1 - talcum stone.
In 2004, 47 enterprises of the mining complex produced iron ore
(more than 21 million tons), building stone for the production of
crushed stone (4.5 million m³), natural stone blocks for the production
of facing and ritual products (about 20 thousand m³), high-carbon
shungite rocks (about 50 thousand tons), quartz-feldspar raw materials
(10 thousand tons), sand and sand and gravel materials (more than 1
million m³), as well as shungite-containing slates, clays for brick
production, peat, groundwater in limited quantities.
The
unallocated subsoil fund consists of previously or partially studied
manifestations of minerals (more than 2.5 thousand objects), as well as
reserves of mineral raw materials put on the balance sheet that are not
in demand on the market in the conditions of the current price situation
(sheet muscovite, mineral paints, kyanite ores, molybdenum, dolomites,
sulfur-pyrite ores).
Iron ore, mica, feldspar, quartz, facing
stone, as well as various building materials - granites, diabases,
marbles - are actively mined. There are gold, silver, diamonds, rare
earth metals. Deposits of uranium ores have been explored (“Karku”,
“Poultry Farm” - with uranium as the main mineral; “Middle Padma”,
“Upper Padma”, “Tsarevskoye”, “Cosmozero”, “Spring” - with uranium as an
associated mineral) , titanium, vanadium, molybdenum.
It is
planned to develop industrial development of the Pudozhgorskoye deposit
of titanium-magnetite ores, the Aganozerskoye deposit of chromium ores
and the Shalozerskoye deposit of chromium-copper-nickel-platinum-metal
ores of the Burakovsky massif.
As part of the Pudozh megaproject,
additional exploration, determination of prospects and, in case of a
positive result, industrial development of the following objects is
planned:
The Pudozhgorskoye deposit (the main ore mineral is
titanomagnetite; useful components of the ores of the deposit are iron
(Fe), titanium (Ti), vanadium (V), copper (Cu), gold (Au) and platinum
group metals). According to the reference book "Mineral resource base of
the Republic of Kazakhstan", the content of TiO2 is 8.13%, off-balance
ore reserves are estimated at 316.689 million tons, and the forecast ore
resources are 200 million tons. Copper reserves (cat. C1 + C2) are
estimated at 410 thousand tons with an average grade of 0.13%.
Deposit "Aganozerskoe" (chrome ores). Ore reserves are estimated: for
category C1 - 8.111 million tons, for category C2 - 18.476 million tons.
The predicted ore resources for categories P1 + P2 are 177.546 million
tons.
Manifestation "Shalozerskoye" (several occurrences) of chromium
and platinum-metal ores.
Deposit "Aganozerskoe-2" (nickel-bearing
serpentinites). Ores are complex. The main useful components of ores are
nickel and magnesium. Nickel reserves in category C2 are estimated at
475 thousand tons, forecast resources in categories P1 + P2 - 7569
thousand tons.
There are about 27,000 rivers in Karelia, of which the largest are:
Vodla (length - 149 km), Kem (191 km), Onda (197 km), Unga, Chirka-Kem
(221 km), Kovda, Shuya, Suna with waterfalls Kivach and Vyg.
There are about 60,000 lakes in the republic. Together with the swamps,
they account for about 2000 km³ of high-quality fresh water. Ladoga and
Onega are the largest lakes in Europe. Other large lakes of Karelia:
Nyuk, Pyaozero, Segozero, Syamozero, Topozero, Vygozero, Yushkozero.
Since the territory of Karelia is located on the Baltic Crystalline
Shield, many rivers have rapids and are often dressed in stone banks.
The fauna of Karelia is relatively young; it was formed after the Ice
Age. In total, 63 species of mammals live on the territory of the
republic, many of which, for example, the Ladoga ringed seal, flying
squirrel and brown eared ear, are listed in the Red Book. On the rivers
of Karelia, you can see the huts of European and Canadian beavers. The
Canadian beaver, as well as the muskrat, the American mink are
acclimatized representatives of the fauna of North America. The raccoon
dog is also not a native inhabitant of Karelia, it comes from the Far
East. Since the late 1960s, wild boars began to appear, and roe deer
enter the southern regions. There is a bear, lynx, badger and wolf.
285 species of birds live in Karelia, of which 36 species are listed
in the Red Book of Karelia. The most common birds are corvids. There is
upland game - hazel grouse, black grouse, white partridges,
capercaillie. Every spring geese come to Karelia from warm countries.
Birds of prey are widespread: owls, hawks, golden eagles, marsh
harriers. There are also 40 pairs of rare white-tailed eagles. Of the
waterfowl: ducks, loons, waders, many gulls and the largest of the
diving ducks in Karelia - the common eider, valuable for its warm down.
There are only 5 species of reptiles on the territory of the
republic: common viper, snake, spindle, viviparous lizard and agile
lizard.
In summer, there are a lot of midges around: mosquitoes,
biting midges, midges and horseflies of many species (real horsefly,
lacewings, raindrops, deer horsefly, gray horsefly). Ticks are
widespread in the south of the republic. In Karelia, you can meet a rare
swallowtail butterfly.
Just like the fauna, the flora of Karelia
was formed relatively recently - 10-15 thousand years ago. Coniferous
forests predominate, to the north - pine forests, to the south - both
pine and spruce forests. The main conifers are Scotch pine and Scotch
spruce. Less common are Finnish spruce (north of the republic), Siberian
spruce (east), extremely rare - Siberian larch (in Zaonezhye, in the
areas bordering the Arkhangelsk region). Small-leaved species are
widespread in the forests of Karelia, these are: downy birch, warty
birch, aspen, gray alder, and some types of willow. Black alder is found
mainly in the southern regions of Karelia, less often in the central,
usually in small groups in the valleys of rivers and streams, on the
banks of lakes and in wet, swampy places (its separate locations are
also in the northern regions of the republic), and small-leaved linden,
rough elm , smooth elm, Norway maple grow mainly in the undergrowth,
individual trees or clumps in areas with the most fertile soils in
southern Karelia.
Karelia is the land of berries, lingonberries,
blueberries, cloudberries, blueberries, cranberries grow here in
abundance, raspberries grow in the forests - both wild and wild,
sometimes moving from village gardens. Strawberries and currants grow
abundantly in the south of the republic. In the forests, juniper is
common, bird cherry and buckthorn are not uncommon. Occasionally, common
viburnum is found. In the extreme south-west of the republic (in the
north-western Ladoga region), common hazel is also very rare.
There are two reserves in Karelia: "Kivach" and "Kostomukshsky", as
well as the Kem-Ludsky section of the Kandalaksha Reserve. Ecological
routes are laid on their territories, there are museums of nature, and
scientific tourism is carried out.
There are three national parks
in the republic - "Vodlozersky" (partially located in the Arkhangelsk
region), "Paanajärvi" and "Kalevalsky".
There are also two
museum-reserves: "Valaam" and "Kizhi".
The Ladoga Skerries Park
is at the design and development stage. In addition, in the 2000s, it
was planned to create the Tulos National Park in the Muezersky District
and the Koitajoki-Tolvajärvi National Park on the basis of the
Tolvajärvi Landscape Reserve in the Suoyärvi District, north of Ladoga.
Most of the territory of Karelia (148,000 km², or 85%) is occupied by the state forest fund. The forest fund of the Republic of Karelia has a total timber reserve of 945.7 million m³, of which 826.3 million m³ are coniferous plantations. There are 17 forestries on the territory of the Republic of Karelia. Forest inventory works are carried out by the FSUE “Roslesinforg” branch, a separate structural subdivision “Karellesproekt” (Karelian branch of the state forest inventory of the federal state unitary enterprise “Roslesinforg”).
In the 7th century, in addition to the "proper" Karelian
principality, several more Karelian principalities were formed [source
not specified 3636 days] (the Saimaa Karelian principality, the Vyborg
Karelian principality and the Tiversky Karelian principality), but their
formation was interrupted by Swedish expansion. As a result, the Vyborg
Principality ceased to exist, and the Tiversky Principality became part
of Karelia Proper. By the 10th century, Karelia became a centralized
state, although in the 11th century there was another large Karelian
principality - Savolaks.
In the first half of the 14th century,
according to S.I. Kochkurkina, there was a kind of "Karelian
principality", created by Novgorod in order to strengthen the
northwestern borders.
At present, Finland has the provinces of
North Karelia (since 1960) and South Karelia.
There were also
unrecognized Karelian state formations in the north of the republic
during the period of military intervention:
from 07/21/1919 to
05/18/1920 - the North Karelian state;
from 03/19/1920 to 1922 - the
Ukhta Republic.
From July 8, 1937 to February 25, 1939, there was the
Karelian National District - an administrative-territorial unit of the
USSR as part of the Kalinin (now Tver) region.
On August 9, 1990,
the Supreme Council of the KASSR adopted the Declaration on State
Sovereignty of the Karelian ASSR.
The population of the republic, according to Rosstat, is 527,821
people. (2023). Population density - 2.92 people / km² (2023). Urban
population - 80.11% (2022).
According to the preliminary results
of the Russian population census, which took place in October 2010, the
number of resident population of the Republic of Karelia decreased by 71
thousand people compared to the 2002 census and amounts to 645.2
thousand people, including 294.8 thousand men and 350 4 thousand women,
while a little earlier data were published that as of January 1, 2010,
the resident population was 684,195 people.
A decrease in the
population is noted in all regions of the republic, but in some it is
especially noticeable. Thus, the population of the Suoyarvsky district
decreased by 5.2 thousand people, Pudozhsky - by 5.8 thousand,
Medvezhyegorsk - by 6.5 thousand, and Segezhsky - by almost 9 thousand.
503.9 thousand people (about 78% of the population) are urban
residents, the remaining 141.3 thousand people (22%) are rural. In
Karelia, as in many regions of Russia, there are demographic problems.
The death rate in Karelia exceeds the birth rate almost twice.
The most populated is the southern part of the republic, where 73% of
the population lives and the density is 8.7 people per square kilometer.
In the central part, the number of inhabitants per square kilometer was
2 people (13% of the inhabitants). Less populated is the north of the
republic with a population density of 1.5 people (14% of the
population). In general, the population density in the republic was 3.6
people per 1 km² (in 2002 - 4.0 people).
According to the results
of the 2010 Russian census, out of 776 rural settlements, 110 (14%) are
without population. The most sparsely populated region of the republic
is Kalevalsky, 6176 people are registered in it. (2021).
In addition to the Russian language, some residents of the Republic of Karelia speak national languages: Karelians - Karelian, Finns - Finnish, Vepsians - Vepsian. April 20 marks the day of Karelian and Vepsian writing.
In the version of the constitution adopted in 2001 in Karelia, only
one state language is established - Russian. National languages are
taught in elementary school, studied at universities, in preschool
institutions. They publish educational and fiction literature,
newspapers, magazines, radio and television programs. The centers for
the scientific study of languages are the Institute of Language,
Literature and History of the Karelian Scientific Center of the Russian
Academy of Sciences, the Faculty of Baltic-Finnish Philology and Culture
of Petrozavodsk State University.
The languages of the Karelians,
Finns and Veps are written in the Latin alphabet. The languages of these
peoples are not state languages, therefore they are not subject to the
requirement of the federal law on the mandatory use of the Cyrillic
alphabet. At the same time, the law allows the use as a state language
with a script other than Cyrillic, subject to the adoption of a special
federal law establishing such use for a particular case.
The
Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation, which considered the
issue of introducing the Latin alphabet for the Tatar language in 2004,
recognized the right of the federal legislative body to establish the
written basis of the languages of the peoples of Russia and noted that
the establishment of a unified written basis for the languages of the
peoples of Russia (Cyrillic) "provides - in order to preserve state
unity – harmonization and balanced functioning of the federal language
and the state languages of the republics”. The Constitutional Court
noted that changing the graphic basis is permissible if it "corresponds
to the historical, cultural, social and political realities and
interests of the multinational people of Russia." The solution of such a
question by the republic unilaterally, however, may lead "to a weakening
of federal unity and restriction of the rights and freedoms of citizens,
including those living outside the republic, for whom this language is
native."
This decision of the Constitutional Court suspended the
process of granting Karelian the status of a state language. Thus, the
Republic of Karelia is the only republic within the Russian Federation
in which none of the indigenous peoples living on its territory has its
own national language as a state language. At the same time, the
problems for raising the status of the Karelian language are the low
proportion of Karelians relative to the population of other
nationalities living in Karelia and, accordingly, the low level of the
Karelian language.
In 2009, 194 religious organizations representing 18 confessions and
trends were registered in the Republic of Karelia. Believers are mostly
Christians: Orthodox, Lutherans and Catholics.
The Orthodox
Karelia is united in the Karelian Metropolis, which includes two
dioceses: the Petrozavodsk and Karelian eparchies, the Kostomuksha and
Kem eparchies.
The Lutherans of Karelia are divided between the
Church of Ingria (Karelian Priesthood: 17 parishes) and the Karelian
Lutheran Church.
Catholics have one parish of the Perpetual Help
of the Mother of God in Petrozavodsk.
In 1997 the Petrozavodsk
Jewish religious community was registered.
In 2001, the Islamic
organization Spiritual Board of Muslims of the Republic of Karelia was
registered in Karelia.
Representatives of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Mormons, are active.
Karelia is
the historical homeland of the Old Believer Pomeranian Church. The Old
Believer Pomor community "Vygoretskaya monastery" in our time was
registered in 1997 in Povenets.
Political structure
The fundamental law of the Republic of Karelia
is the Constitution of the Republic of Karelia. The Republic of Karelia,
according to the current Constitution of the Republic of Karelia, is a
republic (state) within the Russian Federation with a republican form of
government.
The division of powers between the authorities of the
Republic and the Russian Federation was established by Law No. 184-FZ
adopted in 1999 “On the General Principles of Organization of
Legislative (Representative) and Executive Bodies of State Power of the
Subjects of the Russian Federation”.
The state authorities of the
Republic of Karelia are located in Petrozavodsk.
Legislature
The Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Karelia is a permanent
representative and the only legislative body of state power in the
Republic of Karelia. Since 2016, it consists of 36 deputies elected by
the inhabitants of the republic according to a mixed electoral system:
18 deputies - according to party lists (proportional system), 18 - in
single-member districts (majority system) on the basis of universal,
equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot. The term of office of
deputies of one convocation is five years.
The current 6th
convocation was elected in September 2016 until 2021. Of the 36
deputies, 24 are from United Russia, 3 are from the Communist Party of
the Russian Federation, 3 are from the Liberal Democratic Party, 3 are
from A Just Russia, 3 are from Yabloko. Elissan Shandalovich ("United
Russia") was elected Chairman. Igor Zubarev (United Russia) was elected
representative of the Legislative Assembly in the Federation Council.
executive branch
Executive power is exercised by:
The Head of
the Republic of Karelia is the highest official of the Republic of
Karelia,
The Government of the Republic of Karelia, headed by the
Head of the Republic, is the permanent supreme executive body of state
power of the Republic of Karelia,
other executive authorities.
The Head of the Republic is the highest official of the Republic of
Karelia. Elected by the inhabitants of the republic on the basis of
universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot. The term of
office is 5 years, while one person cannot hold office for more than two
consecutive terms.
The current head of the republic is Artur
Parfenchikov (since February 15, 2017, he was appointed by President V.
V. Putin; on September 10, 2017, he was elected in the elections from
the United Russia party). Alexander Rakitin has been appointed as a
representative in the Federation Council.
Judicial branch
Judicial power is exercised by federal courts, the Constitutional Court
of the Republic of Karelia, justices of the peace of the Republic of
Karelia.
Representatives in the Federal Assembly
In the
Federation Council, Karelia, like every subject of the federation, has
two representatives: one from the legislative assembly and one from the
government of the republic.
In the State Duma of the 7th
convocation in 2016-2021, 4 deputies were representatives of citizens
living in the Republic of Karelia. In the 2016 elections, which were
held under a mixed system, Valentina Pivnenko (United Russia) was
elected in single-seat constituency 225 (majority system), which was
entirely the Republic of Karelia. According to party lists in a single
federal district (proportional system) in the regional group "Leningrad
Region, Republic of Karelia, Murmansk Region" 3 candidates received
mandates: Svetlana Zhurova and Alexei Lyashchenko from United Russia,
Igor Ananskikh from A Just Russia.
Political parties
As of
March 1, 2010, seven Russian political parties had their branches in the
Republic of Karelia: United Russia, Communist Party of the Russian
Federation, Patriots of Russia, Fair Russia, LDPR, Yabloko and Right
Cause. The socio-political movement of the Russian People's Democratic
Union also has its own branch.
The Republic of Karelia is a full member of the Assembly of European
Regions, a member of the Council of the Barents Euro-Arctic Region.
Euroregion "Karelia"
In February 2000, the Euroregion "Karelia"
was formed as part of the Republic of Karelia and the regional unions of
communes of Finland - North Pohyanmaa, Kainuu and North Karelia. The
priority areas of cooperation are the forest industry, agriculture,
transport, communications, healthcare, tourism, culture, environmental
protection and cross-border cooperation.
Northern Dimension
Project
In 2000, at the EU summit, the Northern Dimension project was
approved, the purpose of which was the gradual formation of a
consolidated strategy for intercountry and interregional cooperation in
the North of Europe, including the Russian northern regions - Karelia,
the Komi Republic, Murmansk, Kaliningrad, Arkhangelsk, Vologda, Pskov
and Leningrad region, St. Petersburg and the Nenets Autonomous Okrug.
The Republic of Karelia develops international cultural and economic
cooperation with the provinces and unions of communes of Finland, the
Swedish province (Vasterbotten), the Norwegian province (Tromsø), the
state of the United States of America (Vermont), the province of Poland
(Chekhanovo), the Autonomous Republic of Georgia (Adzharia), the
prefecture of Greece ( Elijah), Odessa region of Ukraine and the
Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the Republic of Belarus, Fujian province
(East China).
The Republic of Karelia is a member of the North-West Association,
established in January 1991 by representatives of the executive and
legislative authorities of the constituent entities of the Russian
Federation located within the North-West Federal District. The tasks of
the Association include the joint solution of problems of common
interest for the territory of the Okrug in the areas of industry,
agriculture, transport, communications, education, healthcare, and
ecology.
The Republic develops trade, economic, scientific,
technical and cultural cooperation, within the framework of separate
agreements, with many regions of the Russian Federation, including the
Arkhangelsk, Vladimir, Vologda, Voronezh, Kaliningrad, Leningrad,
Lipetsk, Murmansk, Nizhny Novgorod, Saratov and Sverdlovsk regions , the
Republic of Bashkortostan, the Republic of Dagestan, the Republic of
Ingushetia, the Republic of Komi, the Republic of Tatarstan, the cities
of St. Petersburg and Moscow.
The republic has an industrial base[82] dominated by metallurgy,
mining[83], woodworking and paper industries.
By Decree of the
Government of the Russian Federation of July 29, 2014 No. 1398-r (as
amended on November 24, 2015) “On approval of the list of
single-industry towns” included in the list of single-industry towns of
the Russian Federation with the most difficult socio-economic situation
- Nadvoitsy, Pudozh, Muezersky, Pitkyaranta, Kondopoga and Suoyarvi
Segezha, Pindushi, Lakhdenpokhya, Kostomuksha and Vartsila are on the
list of those with risks of worsening the socio-economic situation.
The city of Kostomuksha and 4 northern regions of the republic -
Belomorsky, Kalevalsky, Kemsky, Loukhsky - have the status of regions of
the Far North. The cities of Petrozavodsk and Sortavala, as well as 11
districts of the republic - Kondopozhsky, Lakhdenpokhsky,
Medvezhyegorsky, Muezersky, Olonetsky, Pitkyarantsky, Prionezhsky,
Pryazhinsky, Pudozhsky, Segezhsky, Suoyarvsky - have the status of areas
equated to the regions of the Far North. These statuses provide some
benefits to people living and working in these areas.
Industry
Industrial sectors that use local natural resources: timber,
woodworking, pulp and paper, mining, ferrous metallurgy, building
materials industry.
Industries working on imported raw materials:
mechanical engineering, non-ferrous metallurgy.
Large
enterprises:
"Onega shipbuilding and ship repair plant" -
construction of sea and river vessels.
"Vyartsilsky hardware plant" -
wire, nails.
Karelsky Okatysh produces iron ore pellets.
Kondopoga
produces newsprint.
"Lyaskelsky paper factory".
"Petrozavodskmash"
- chemical and paper-making equipment, equipment for nuclear power
plants, containers for storing spent nuclear fuel.
"Onega Tractor
Plant" - tractors of the TLT-100A type ..
"Segezha Pulp and Paper
Mill" - production of sack paper.
"Suoyärvi Cardboard Factory".
Cellulose plant "Pitkyaranta".
"Nadvoitsy aluminum plant".
"Karelian Combine".
Timber industry complex
The timber
industry complex of Karelia is represented by 3 pulp and paper
enterprises, 10 largest specialized sawmills and more than 30 large
logging enterprises.
The timber industry complex of Karelia
produces 28% of the republic's industrial output. The enterprises of the
complex employ about half of all those working in industry. The republic
accounts for 24% of the total Russian production of paper, more than a
third of newsprint, about 67% of paper bags, 3.4% of lumber.
The
area of forest fund lands in Karelia is 14.5 million hectares. The total
wood stock is 970.0 million m³. The annual average growth is 14.2
million m³.
As of January 1, 2010, the area of forest plots
leased out for timber harvesting and other types of forest use is 8.9
million hectares (61% of the total area of forest fund lands).
Mining complex
Iron ores, shungite, raw materials for the production
of mineral wool slabs and stone-cast products (1 enterprise), building
stone for the production of crushed stone and blocks are mined in the
republic, deposits of fresh and mineral underground waters are
exploited. A number of enterprises develop deposits of sand and
sand-gravel material for road and construction purposes.
The
structure of the mining and metallurgical complex of the republic in
terms of sales volumes (as of 2008) was (in % of the total production
volume): iron ores - 80.8%; crushed stone - 17.5%; stone blocks - 1.4%;
shungite - 0.3%.
Energy
As of the beginning of 2021, 25 power
plants connected to the unified energy system with a total capacity of
1178.1 MW were operated in Karelia, including 21 hydroelectric power
plants and 4 thermal power plants, as well as 8 small diesel power
plants with a total capacity of 3.4 MW and five solar power plants with
a total capacity of 61 kW, located in the zone of decentralized energy
supply. In 2020, they produced 5,468 million kWh of electricity
(excluding the generation of the Kumskaya HPP, located in Karelia, but
organizationally part of the energy system of the Murmansk region).
JSC TGC-1 is the leading producer and supplier of electrical and
thermal energy. Its Karelsky branch includes:
Petrozavodsk CHPP is
the largest in the republic, provides 85% of heat to the city of
Petrozavodsk, with an installed capacity of 280 MW.
Cascade of Vygsky
HPPs (5 hydroelectric power plants: Matkozhnenskaya HPP, Ondskaya HPP,
Vygostrovskaya HPP, Belomorskaya HPP, Palokorgskaya HPP), with an
installed capacity of 240 MW.
Cascade of Kemsky HPPs (4 hydroelectric
power plants: Putkinskaya HPP, Poduzhemskaya HPP, Yushkozerskaya HPP,
Krivoporozhskaya HPP), with an installed capacity of 330 MW.
Cascade
of the Sunskiye HPPs (Kondopoga HPP and Paleozerskaya HPP), with an
installed capacity of 50.6 MW.
A group of small HPPs (6 HPPs:
Pitkäkoski HPP, Hämekoski HPP, Harlu HPP, Pieni-Joki HPP, Suuri-Joki
HPP, Ignoila HPP), with an installed capacity of 13.1 MW.
Diesel
power plant on the island of Valaam.
HPP cascades unite 17
hydroelectric power plants with a total capacity of 634 MW. They
generate about 70% of the electricity produced in the republic.
CJSC Nord Hydro owns the Lyaskelya HPP.
In addition, the pulp and
paper industry of the Republic of Karelia has five thermal power plants
(CHP) connected to the power grid as block stations:
CHPP-1 and
CHPP-2 of OAO Kondopoga (Kondopoga) with an installed capacity of 36 MW
and 60 MW, respectively;
CHPP of Pitkyaranta Pulp Mill OJSC with an
installed capacity of 24 MW;
CHPP-1 and CHPP-2 of OAO Segezha Pulp
and Paper Mill with an installed capacity of 36 MW and 24 MW,
respectively.
The total capacity of these power plants is 180 MW.
Block-stations of the enterprises OJSC Kondopoga, OJSC Pulp Mill
Pitkyaranta, OJSC Segezha Pulp and Paper Mill do not participate in
covering the maximum load of the power system, the electricity generated
by them is used for the production needs of enterprises.
The
branch of PJSC FGC UES Karelian enterprise of backbone electrical
networks (Karelian PMES) is a grid company serving electrical networks
of 220-330 kV of the Karelian energy system. The Karelian PMES operates
2798.65 km of power transmission lines with a voltage of 220-330 kV, 14
substations with a voltage of 220-330 kV with a total transformer
capacity of 5438.2 MVA. The production complex of the company in the
Republic of Karelia is represented by 10 substations 35-220-330 kV, with
an installed capacity of 1945.1 MVA, as well as power lines 110-220-330
kV, and a 35 kV line on the island. Valaam, put into operation in 2009.
Branch of PJSC Interregional Distribution Grid Company of the
North-West (PJSC IDGC of the North-West) Karelenergo is a distribution
grid company engaged in the transmission of electric energy and
technological connection to 0.4-110 kV networks in the Republic of
Karelia.
The length of electric networks of power transmission
lines along the circuits is 11424.5 km. The length of the power
transmission line along the highway is 10857.3 km, including:
VL 0.4
kV - 2457 km,
VL 6-10 kV - 4164.8 km,
VL 35-110 kV - 4235.5 km.
The total length of cable transmission lines is 92.1 km:
CL 6-10
kV - 36.7 km,
CL 0.4 kV - 55.4 km
Municipal urban and rural
electrical networks and heat and gas supply facilities have been
transferred to the balance sheet of the Republic of Karelia. For their
operation, SUE RK "KarelEnergoHolding" (electric power industry), and
SUE RK "KarelKommunEnergo" (heat power and gas supply) were created.
In the housing and communal sector, the main energy carriers at
present are oil refinery products (fuel oil, diesel fuel), coal and
natural gas, which are supplied to heat supply enterprises from outside
the republic. Peat is used in small quantities.
The service of passenger and freight transportation exists in
Petrozavodsk and regional centers of Karelia. Appeared in the
1930-1950s. as a service provided by state-owned auto enterprises. In
the 1950s there were suburban minibuses that ran from Petrozavodsk to
the settlements of the Prionezhsky district. The first city minibus in
the form of passenger cars "Volga" in Petrozavodsk appeared in 1968.
Later in the 1970-1980s. Petrozavodsk Motor Transport Enterprise and
convoys of regional centers were moving in the cities of Kondopoga,
Kostomuksha, Segezha.
Roads and rail transport
Due to the low
population density in Karelia, the road network is not very extensive.
The length of public roads is 7822 km. Only the main highways and small
sections of the road along large settlements have been paved. The
construction of new tracks and sections of tracks is also actively
underway.
List of main roads:
E 105 R21 "Cola": Yalta -
Kharkov - Moscow - St. Petersburg - Olonets - Petrozavodsk - Kondopoga -
Medvezhyegorsk - Belomorsk - Kem - Murmansk - Kirkenes
A119: Vologda
- Vytegra - Pudozh - Povenets - Medvezhyegorsk
A121 "Sortavala": St.
Petersburg - Priozersk - Lakhdenpokhya - Sortavala - "Kola (motorway)"
86K-8: Olonets - Sortavala - Ruskeala - Vartsila
86K-13: Pitkyaranta
- Loimola - Suoyarvi
A132: Suoyarvi - Porosozero - Yustozero -
Medvezhyegorsk
86K-10: Petrozavodsk - Suoyarvi
A134: Kochkoma -
Tiksha - Reboly
A135: Kem - Kalevala - Voknavolok
86K-127: Loukhi
- Pyaozersky - Suoperya
A137: P21 - Tiksha - Ledmozero - Kostomuksha
- border with the Republic of Finland
P17: Medvezhyegorsk - Perguba -
Shunga - Tolvuya - Great Guba
R19: Petrozavodsk - Sheltozero -
Ascension - Oshtinsky Pogost
Railway transport in Karelia is one
of the most important components of the infrastructure of the economy.
These are 2,800 kilometers of railway tracks, about 15,000 highly
skilled workers, 4 departments of the Oktyabrskaya Railway (Murmansk,
Petrozavodsk, Volkhovstroevskoye, St. Petersburg) and the Arkhangelsk
branch of the Northern Railway.
Most of the railway lines of
Karelia are served by the Petrozavodsk branch of the Oktyabrskaya
Railway, which is one of the largest budget-forming enterprises of the
Republic.
In 2005, the electrification of the northern course of
the Oktyabrskaya Railway (the Svir-Idel section of the St.
Petersburg-Murmansk line) was completed. Electrification ensured the
reliability of railway communication between the industrial centers of
the North-West - Murmansk, Petrozavodsk, Arkhangelsk and Syktyvkar -
with other regions of Russia.
The operational length of
electrified sections of railway lines in Karelia is increasing. Now the
next step is the electrification of the Kochkoma-Kostomuksha-Luttya
line, followed by the launch of passenger and freight traffic.
Since January 1, 2011, suburban rail transportation has been carried out
by OJSC North-Western Suburban Passenger Company (before that,
Karelprigorod). SZ PPK electric trains operate on the Kem - Svir, Kem -
Apatity, Kem - Belomorsk - Malenga, Sortavala - Kuznechnoye sections
In general, Karelia has unfavorable natural and climatic conditions
for agricultural production. The agro-resource potential of the republic
is relatively small: the share of cultivated land accounts for only 1.2%
of the total area.
The area of agricultural land is 219 thousand
hectares, about 60% of arable land is located on podzolic soils of
various compositions.
Agriculture is represented by such sectors
as animal husbandry (mainly dairy and beef cattle breeding), pig
breeding, trout breeding, poultry farming, fur farming, and plant
growing. Grow fodder crops. Fur farming and fishing are developed.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fishing and Hunting of the
Republic of Karelia, in 2013 the volume of fish caught and commercial
fish farming products amounted to 116.6 thousand tons.
The postal operator in the republic is the Administration of the
Federal Postal Service of the Republic of Karelia, a branch of the
Federal State Unitary Enterprise Russian Post.
Telephone
operators and providers:
Karelian branch of OJSC Rostelecom;
Internet provider "Sampo.ru" ("Svyazservis");
Internet provider
"Citylink";
North-Western branch of PJSC "MegaFon";
North-Western
branch of MTS PJSC;
"Beeline";
Tele2;
"PeterStar";
"Peterlink".
Budget sphere
In 2010, the republic's budget received
24 billion 873 million rubles of income. At the same time, expenses
amounted to 25 billion 642 million rubles.
Tax revenues make up
the bulk of budget revenues and in 2008 accounted for 64% of operating
revenues. The tax concentration is relatively high: the 10 largest
taxpayers, mainly industrial enterprises, provided about 38% of all tax
revenues in 2008.
Banking services to the population and business entities in the
country are provided by 203 banking institutions.
While
maintaining traditional forms of banking services, the development of
banking infrastructure is characterized by the expansion of remote
channels for customers to access payment services, including using the
Internet, mobile phones, and the Bank-Client system. Credit institutions
provide various forms of out-of-office services to individuals by
expanding the network of software and hardware devices: electronic
payment terminals, ATMs and imprinters installed in trade and service
organizations. The total number of such devices is 3.4 thousand units.
Expansion of the range of banking products that involve the use of
payment cards, as well as the infrastructure for servicing them at trade
and service enterprises, ensures the growth of the payment card market.
The number of issued bank cards is 646 thousand, per 100 residents of
the republic - 101 cards.
Traditional active, cultural and ecological (“green”) types of
tourism are popular in Karelia.
Karelia attracts tourists with
historical and cultural monuments, ecologically clean nature and low
population density. Karelia is popular with lovers of water tourism,
travelers on bicycles and cars, fishermen and hunters. Cruise ships ply
the Ladoga and Onega lakes in summer.
In the winter time in
Karelia there is an opportunity to engage in all kinds of skiing, take
part in a safari on dog or reindeer sleds, and make a trip on
snowmobiles. Travel agencies offer a variety of routes with sightseeing,
historical and cultural monuments. In January 2012, the international
dog sled race "On the land of Sampo" took place. Equestrian tourism is
developing - horseback riding enthusiasts can admire the nature of
Karelia on horseback both in winter and in summer. Karelian petroglyphs
remain popular - unique rock carvings that are about 6,000 years old.
The sanatoriums of the village of Marcial Waters are open all year
round - the first resort in Russia, founded in 1719 by decree of Peter
the Great.
Tourists visiting the western part of the republic,
declared a border zone, should carry an identity card (civil passports,
children - birth certificates) for possible passport control.
In the 2012/2013 academic year in the education system of the
Republic of Karelia there were 211 preschool educational institutions
(33230 students), 221 general education institutions (65435 students),
11 primary vocational education institutions (4150 students), 16
institutions of secondary vocational education (9299 students), 2 state
educational institutions of higher professional education and 14
branches of educational institutions of secondary and higher
professional education. The Karelian language is not widely taught: in
1990 it was studied in 14 schools (686 students), by the 1997/98
academic year in 57 (2388 students), and in the 2009/10 academic year
only in 37 schools (1581 students).
The long-term target Program
"Development of Education in the Republic of Karelia in 2011-2015" was
adopted.
Every year since 2008, the Summer International Youth
Educational Forum "Hyperborea - Battle of Ideas" has been held.
The basis of the scientific potential of the Republic of Karelia is the
Karelian Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences and
Petrozavodsk State University.
In the region of the Republic of Karelia, according to data available
for 2018, the following is registered annually:
152 patients with HIV
infection;
2929 patients with malignant neoplasms; this category of
the population receives modern and effective treatment in the best
clinics in the region;
219 patients with tuberculosis;
45 patients
being treated for drug addiction;
1373 people with chronic
alcoholism;
34 patients with syphilis.
In the healthcare
system of the Republic of Karelia, there are 24 hospitals (republican
and regional hospitals), 5 dispensaries, the Republican Center for the
Prevention and Control of AIDS and Infectious Diseases, the Republican
Blood Transfusion Station, 3 institutions for the protection of
motherhood and childhood, 10 outpatient clinics. polyclinic
institutions, 5 health care institutions of a special type, 7 social
service institutions, 18 regional institutions of social protection, an
autonomous educational institution of secondary vocational education of
the Republic of Karelia "Petrozavodsk Basic Medical College".
A
regional target program "Improving the demographic situation in the
Republic of Karelia for the period 2008-2010 and up to 2015" was
adopted.
Karelia is a unique cultural region (area), the formation of which
was influenced by the border position between the western and eastern
worlds, Germanic and Slavic, Catholic and Orthodox. The main unifying
factor in the process of formation of the culture of the region was the
Orthodox religion.
A lot is being done in the Republic of Karelia
today to support the interests of more than 100 nationalities inhabiting
it, including Karelians, Vepsians and Finns. More than 60 national
public associations have been registered: unions, congresses, popular
movements, autonomies, friendship societies, cultural societies. The
regional target program "Karelia - the territory of consent", the
republican target program "State support of the Karelian, Vepsian and
Finnish languages" are in operation, a public council has been created
to coordinate the implementation of these programs.
The handicrafts of Karelia, in contrast to the Central Russian ones (Zhostovo, Gzhel, Dymkovo, Gus-Khrustalny and others), have not gained all-Russian fame. Currently, in the Republic of Karelia, only one production facility operates in the field of folk arts and crafts - the private factory "Karelian Patterns", founded in 1929, and several dozen individual craftsmen representing about 20 types of traditional crafts.
The written literature of Karelia was formed at the beginning of the
20th century on the basis of centuries-old traditions of Russian
literature, Karelian and Vepsian folklore. In 1940 the Writers' Union of
Karelia was created.
Writers of the Republic of Karelia are
united in public organizations:
Karelian regional branch of the
Writers' Union of Russia;
"Karelian Union of Writers";
Representation of the Union of Russian Writers in Karelia;
Union of
Young Writers "Northern Lights".
Literature in the Vepsian
language
The creation of Vepsian writing began in 1931, when
textbooks for schools, anthologies, and dictionaries were published. But
in 1938, the Vepsian-language books were burned, and teachers and other
public figures were arrested and expelled from their homes.
The
revival of Veps-language literature in Karelia began in the first years
of perestroika. In the 1980s, within the walls of the Writers' Union of
Karelia, at a meeting of young writers, novice Vepsian writers were
represented: Rurik Lonin, Eduard Bronzov, Vyacheslav Sidorov. The
poetess Alevtina Andreeva (1938-2001) from the village of Sheltozero
wrote in the Vepsian language.
Modern writers: A. V. Petukhov, N.
V. Abramov, N. G. Zaitseva.
Literature in Karelian
Karelian
writers, poets and translators - Nikolai Laine (1920-1984), Antti
Timonen (1915-1990), Perttu Pekka (1917-1992), Vladimir Brandoev
(1931-1990), P. M. Semyonov, A. L. Volkov , Z. T. Dubinina, V. S. Ivanov
(Veikki), O. F. Mishina, I. S. Savin.
Literature in Russian
Literature in Russian is represented by the works of F. A. Trofimov, A.
M. Linevskiy, D. Ya. Gusarov, I. M. Petrov (Toivo Vyahya), Tikhonov A.
N., A. I. Avdyshev, V. I. Pulkina, I. A. Kostina, D. M. Balashova, A. I.
Mishina (Oleg Mishin), V. F. Morozova, M. V. Tarasova, B. A. Schmidt, E.
G. Soini, Yu. V. Linnik, D. G. Novikov, V. N. Firsov, E. E. Pietelainen
and other writers and poets.
Literature in Finnish
With the
formation of the Karelian Labor Commune in 1920 and then, in 1923, the
Autonomous Karelian Republic, the state language in Karelia, along with
Russian, also became the Finnish language. Not only Finns wrote in
Finnish. As a result, the Finnish-language literature of Karelia turned
out to be common for several ethnic groups: for Finns-immigrants who
came to the USSR in the 1920s from Finland, the USA and Canada, for
local Ingrians and Karelians who understood Finnish.
Famous
writers: J. Savolainen, L. Helo (T. Guttari), J. E. Virtanen, H. K.
Tikhlya, E. B. Parras, T. K. Summanen, A. N. Timonen, N. M. Yakkola, P.
A. Perttu, Ya. V. Rugoev, A. M. Stepanov, U. K. Wikstrom, Otto Oinonen
(Likka Kare), Allan Visanen and others.
Icon painters were the first professional artists of Karelia. In the
19th century V. S. Parmakov (author of the paintings “View of the
Solomenskaya desert in the vicinity of Petrozavodsk” and “Kivach”), D.
F. Panezerov, A. Ya. Andriyanov and K. V. Akkuratov were students of the
Academy of Arts who were natives of the region. Karelia has become a
source of inspiration for many famous artists of the XIX-XX centuries:
I. I. Shishkin, A. I. Kuindzhi, N. K. Roerich.
The formation of
professional painting in Karelia is associated with the name of the
People's Artist of the KFSSR V. N. Popov (1869-1945). In 1934, the Union
of Artists of the Autonomous Karelian SSR was created, the first
chairman of which was Yu. O. Rautanen, since 2010 - the Karelian branch
of the Union of Artists of Russia. The Association of Young Artists and
Art Critics operates as part of the Karelian branch.
The most
important contribution to the development of painting and plastic arts
in general was made by works of: I. Morozova, A. I. Katseblina, A.
Starodubtseva, S. Terentyeva, K. L. Butorova, A. V. Semyashkina, S. Kh.
Yuntunena, B. N. Pomortseva, G. A. Stronka, L. F. Langinena, F. E.
Nieminena, E. K. Pehovoy, T. G. Yufi, M. Sh. Yufi, V. S. Chekmasova, M.
M. Mecheva, A. P. Kharitonova, K. A. Gogoleva, O. P. Borodkina, K. L.
Butorova, A. I. Avdysheva, E. A. Akulova, L. G. Davidiana, V. M.
Ivanenko, O. S. Yuntunena, photojournalist G. A. Ankudinova, S. A.
Meisterman, V. V. Trosheva, bone cutter V. M. Balandina and Yu. E.
Pyatakov, scenographer V. O. Polyakova, Kh. G. Skaldinoi, V. A. Skorika,
jeweler G. V. Grigorieva.
Architecture
In 1939, on the
initiative of architects K. Ya. Gutina, B. N. Litinsky and A. M.
Mitrofanov, the Karelian branch of the "Union of Architects of the
USSR", since 2000 - the "Union of Architects of the Republic of
Karelia". At different times, famous republican architects were elected
as leaders of the Union: A. L. Lukashyn, T. V. Kovalevskaya, A. R.
Solomonov, F. I. Rekhmukov, V. P. Orfinsky, V. I. Antokhin, E. V.
Voskresensky, A. A. Saveliev, E. B. Frolov.
G. made a significant
contribution to the development of architectural and urban planning
activities in the republic. A. Lobko, G. A. Pashkov, N. I. Mazur, M. A.
Shirokov, S. V. Lavrov, V. N. Tykwenko, E. F. Andreev, N. V. Kuspak, I.
I. Berger, N. V. Voskobovich, V. P. Kiselyov, L. I. Kiuru, V. A.
Kuznetsov, A. A. Nizovtsev, N. A. Savin, V. A. Samokhvalov, A. A.
Borshevsky, V. V. Bugashev, S. M. Isaacson, W. N. Shevlyakov, A. P.
Pertyakov, L. Yu. Karma.
Music
The Symphony Orchestra of the
Karelian State Philharmonic was founded in 1933. In different years, the
orchestra belonged to the Karelian Radio and Television, the Ministry of
Culture of Karelia. Since 1997, the orchestra has been working as part
of the Karelian State Philharmonic.
In 1935, the Karelian Folk
Segozersky Choir (Padany), the Karelian Folk Olonets Choir "Karjalan
koivu" ("Karelian birch") were founded.
In 1936, the National
Song and Dance Ensemble of Karelia "Kantele", the Veps National Choir,
the Karelian National Petrovsky Choir were founded.
In 1937, the
Pomeranian People's Choir (Medvezhiegorsk) was founded, and in 1938, the
Karelian People's Choir of Vedlozero (Vedlozero).
In 1938, the
Petrozavodsk Musical School (now Petrozavodsk Musical College named
after K. E. Rautio) was opened.
In 1939, the Karelian State
Philharmonic was opened.
In 1937, the Union of Composers of
Karelia was founded. In different years, the Union was headed by famous
Karelian composers: R. S. Parchment, L. V. Vishkarev, K. E. Rautio,
G.-R. N. Sinisalo, A. S. Beloborodov. The responsible secretaries were
elected V. P. Sinisalo, G. I. Lapchinsky, A. I. Holland, E. N.
Patlaenko, N. I. Samsonov. The musicology section was headed by T. V.
Krasnopolskaya, N. Yu. Grodnitskaya, V. I. Nilova. A great contribution
to the development of professional musical creativity in Karelia was
made by the composer G. A. Vavilov, P. B. Kozinsky, V. A. Konchakov, S.
G. Leonchik, A. L. Repnikov, R. F. Zelinsky, V. K. Koshelev, B. D.
Napreev, V. V. Sergeenko, A. P. Smirnova, I. A. Subbotin, V. N. Ugrumov;
Musician I. N. Baranova, O. A. Bochkareva, Yu. G. Con.
In 1967,
the Petrozavodsk branch of the Leningrad State Conservatory (now the
Petrozavodsk State Conservatory named after A.K. Glazunov) was opened.
In 1973 L. was awarded the Honored Artist of the Republic of
Karelia. P. Karelia-Brass ensemble founded by Budanov.
In 1990,
the Karelian folk choir "Oma pajo" was founded.
More than twenty
children's music schools operate in the republic, among which:
Petrozavodsk children's musical school No. 1 im. Sinisalo (opened in
1918). The school is the organizer of the international competition
"Onega Wave", the international festival of the Barents region "Northern
Shine", the festival of music of the northern countries "Sankta Lucia".
Olonets Children's Music School (opened in 1952)
Belomorsk Children's
Music School (opened in 1955)
Kondopogi Children's Music School
(opened in 1957)
Petrozavodsk Children's Music and Choir School
(opened in 1966)
Children's music school named after Kostomukshi. G.
A. Vavilova (opened in 1977)
Petrozavodsk children's musical school
named after G. V. Sviridova (opened in 1983)
Children's School of
Arts in Petrozavodsk M. A. Balakireva (opened in 1991)
Musical
groups: family ensemble Sattuma, Leo Sevets, Santtu Karhu & Talvisovat,
Myllärit, early music ensemble Drolls, VaTaGa.
Museum
Federal
State historical-architectural and ethnographic museum-reserve "Kizhi"
Republican
National Museum of the Republic of Karelia
Sheltozer Veps ethnographic museum (branch)
Martial Waters Museum
(branch)
"Balaam scientific-research, church-archaeological and
natural museum-reserve"
Museum of Fine Arts of the Republic of
Karelia
Museum of the History of National Education of the Republic
of Karelia (as part of the Karelian Institute of Education Development)
Regional Museum of the Northern Ladoga Region (Sortavala district)
Olonets National Museum of Karelians-Livviks named after I. N. G.
Prilukina
Pudozh Museum of History and Local Lore. A. F. Korableva
Medvezhyegorsk Regional Museum
Pitkyaranta Museum of Local Lore V. F.
Sebina
Belomorsky Regional Museum of Local Lore "Belomorsky
Petroglyphs"
Kemsky regional museum of local lore "Pomorie"
Kondopoga city museum of local lore
Cultural and Museum Center of
Kostomuksha
Museum Center of Segezha
Kurkiekos Local History
Center
Museum of Industrial History of Petrozavodsk (opened in 2011)
Private, departmental, enterprise museums
Center for Fire
Propaganda and Public Relations under the Main Directorate of the
Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia for the Republic of Karelia
(Petrozavodsk)
Maritime Museum "Polar Odysseus" (opened on the
territory of the Maritime Historical and Cultural Center, Petrozavodsk)
Children's Museum of Local Lore (Palace of Creativity of Children and
Youth, Petrozavodsk)
Museum of the History of the Solomensky sawmill
named after L. V. Serkina
Postal Museum
School Museum of Local
Lore "Karelian Hut" of the Kotkozersky rural socio-cultural complex
(Olonets district, Kotkozero village)
Museum of the History of the
Ministry of Internal Affairs of Karelia (Petrozavodsk)
Historical and
demonstration hall of the Federal Security Service of Russia in the
Republic of Karelia
Museum of Precambrian Geology of the Institute of
Geology KarRC RAS
Theaters
Musical Theater of the Republic of
Karelia
National Theater of the Republic of Karelia
State Puppet
Theater of the Republic of Karelia
Youth Theater "Creative Workshop"
Non-state author's theater "Ad Liberum"
Movie
In 1973, there
were 16 cinemas in the Karelian ASSR. Today, out of 13 cities of the
republic, cinemas operate only in Petrozavodsk (12 cinema halls), in
Kostomuksha ("House of Youth and Cinema"), in Sortaval (cinema "Zarya"),
in Segezha (cinema "Victory"), in Suoyarvi (cinema "Cosmos "). In
Kondopoga, in the building of the cinema "October" there is a night club
"Galaktika". In 2010, it was planned to reconstruct it. And in the
building of the cinema "Mir" - one of the oldest buildings in the city -
in 2011 it was planned to create a children's entertainment center with
slot machines and a cinema.
In 2009, the Ministry of Culture of
the Russian Federation developed a digital film screening program in
cities with a population of less than 500 thousand people, new cinemas
are being built in shopping centers.
Film production in Karelia
is carried out only by the film studio "Karelfilm", located in
Petrozavodsk.
In Karelia, in addition to public holidays celebrated in the Russian
Federation, there are two republican ones:
June 8 - Republic Day,
celebrated since 1999,
September 30 is the Day of the Liberation of
Karelia from Nazi invaders, celebrated since 2009.
In 1957, the Karelian branch of the Union of Journalists of the USSR
(now the Karelian branch of the Union of Journalists of Russia) was
organized. Over the years, the union was headed by F. A. Trofimov, A. I.
Shtykov, K. V. Gnetnev, V. N. Kiryasov, V. A. Tolsky, N. N. Meshkova, A.
M. Tsygankov. In 1960-1990. the creative work of the best republican
journalists was marked by the annual award to them. K. S. Eremeeva. At
present, every year on the eve of the Day of the Russian Journalist, the
Union of Journalists of Karelia awards two special awards: “For skill
and dignity” and “For openness to the press”.
Newspapers
"Karelia". Comes out three times a week. Founder: Legislative Assembly,
government of the Republic of Karelia.
Weekly newspaper
"TVR-Panorama". Founders: PetroPress Publishing House and Karelian
television company Nika.
Weekly newspaper "Karelian province".
Weekly newspaper "Moskovsky Komsomolets in Karelia" Founder: CJSC
"Editorial office of the newspaper "Moskovsky Komsomolets"".
Weekly
newspaper "Komsomolskaya Pravda in Karelia" Founder: Publishing House
"Komsomolskaya Pravda".
Weekly newspaper Arguments and Facts in
Karelia. Founder: "Arguments and Facts".
Weekly newspaper "Youth
newspaper of Karelia" Founder: JSC "Kondopoga" (Kondopoga Pulp and Paper
Mill).
Weekly newspaper "Petrozavodsk University". Founder:
Petrozavodsk State University.
"Lenin's Truth". Comes out twice a
month. Founder: Karelian Republican Organization of the Communist Party
of the Russian Federation.
The Voice is published twice a month.
Founder: Association of Trade Union Organizations of Karelia.
"Lyceum" with an insert "My newspaper +". Comes out once a month.
Founder: State Institution of the Republic of Karelia "Publishing House
"Karelia"".
Newspaper "Karelian sport". Comes out once a month.
Founder and Publisher: Majestic Publishing House.
Weekly
advertisement newspapers: Medved, etc.
The Legislative Assembly,
the government and the publishing house Periodika publish four
newspapers in national languages:
the newspaper "Karjalan Sanomat"
("News of Karelia") in Finnish;
newspaper "Kodima" ("Native Land") in
Vepsian and Russian.
together with the regional organization
Union of the Karelian people:
the newspaper “Oma Mua” (“Native Land”)
in the Livvik dialect of the Karelian language;
the newspaper "Vienan
Karjala" ("White Sea Karelia") in the proper Karelian dialect of the
Karelian language.
Newspapers are published in the regions of
Karelia: Novosti Kostomuksha, Prionezhye, Olonia, Novaya Kondopoga,
Belomorskaya Tribuna, Ladoga-Sortavala, Novosti Kalevala, Pudozhsky
Vestnik, Suoyarvsky Vestnik, "Pripolyarye", "Soviet White Sea", "Novaya
Ladoga", "MuezerskLes", "Call", "Our Life", "Trust", "Dialogue".
Magazines
"Sever" is a monthly literary, artistic and socio-political
magazine in Russian. Founder: government of Karelia.
"Carelia"
("Karelia") is a monthly literary and artistic magazine in Finnish,
Karelian (Livvik and proper Karelian dialects), Vepsian languages.
Founders: Ministry of National Policy and Relations with Religious
Associations of Karelia, Ingermanland Union of Finns of Karelia, Union
of the Karelian People, Society of Vepsian Culture, Periodika Publishing
House.
Kipinä (Sparkle) is a monthly children's illustrated magazine
in Finnish. Founders: Ministry of Education of Karelia and publishing
house "Periodika".
"Industrial Bulletin of Karelia" is a periodical
specialized magazine in Russian.
Radio
Nine radio stations are
located in Petrozavodsk:
"Radio Karelia" (State television and
radio broadcasting company "Karelia")
"Russian Radio on Onego"
"Autoradio-Petrozavodsk"
"Radio Yunost Petrozavodsk". The radio
station is part of the VGTRK holding
"Road Radio". Part of the Nika
media holding
"Our radio". Part of the Nika media holding
"Europe
plus Petrozavodsk"
"Retro Fm on Onego"
"Second wave"
Three
radio stations broadcast in Kostomuksha:
FM radio station of Karelsky
Okatysh JSC
"Local Radio"
Kostomuksha city radio editorial office
"Radio Kostomuksha"
A television
On April 29, 1959, the
television center and the Petrozavodsk television studio were put into
operation.
Regional TV companies:
Branch of VGTRK GTRK Karelia
Autonomous institution of the Republic of Karelia RTK "Sampo"
"Nika"
(LLC TS "NKM")
TNT-Onego (LLC RIA TV6 Moscow-Petronet)
The TV
channel of the State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company of
Karelia broadcasts news releases "Viestit - Karjala" in Finnish every
day.
Internet publications
According to a sociological study
of the regional media market conducted in October 2013, the largest
share of the media of the Republic of Karelia in terms of the number of
published materials belongs to online publications - 77.3%.
Official portal of state authorities of the Republic of Karelia
Online magazine "Republic"
Online newspaper "Karelia"
Online
newspaper "Capital on Onego"
"Karelinform"
"Center for Political
and Social Research"
The largest stadium in Karelia is Spartak in Petrozavodsk. It hosts
games and trainings of the football team of the republic, the American
football team; athletes are involved in the summer.
From 2013 to
2021 in the government of the Republic of Karelia, there was a ministry
of sports (previously there was a committee on sports and youth
affairs), in 2021 it was merged with the ministry of education.
Classic rally competitions and rally-raids are held in the Lahdenpokh
region in summer. Onega sailing regatta is held on Lake Onega.
The traditional international boxing tournament named after P. Ya.
Yatserov is held in Karelia.
Ice hockey is played in Karelia. In
1993-1994 the Pulse team from Petrozavodsk played in the second league
of Russia, in 1994-1995. - in the major league of Russia, in 1997-1998.
- in the second division of Finland; in 2001-2003 the Russhina-Karelia
team played in the second league of the North-West of Russia, becoming
the champion there twice; in 2012, the team from Kondopoga "VMF" played
in the Higher Hockey League; since 2019 the team from Kondopoga plays in
the National Youth Hockey League.
In 2019, the first state school
of the Olympic reserve was opened in the city of Kondopoga, one of the
main areas of study of which is Ice Hockey.
In 2019, a ski jump
K-25 was opened in Sortavala. There is a rowing department in Sortaval
as part of the Olympic Reserve Sports School, established in 2019.
Teams of the Sports School No. 7 of Petrozavodsk participate in
Russian and international football competitions. Since 2021, SSH-7 has
been participating in the competitions of the Youth Football League of
the North-West of Russia.
Floorball teams of Karelia participate
in Russian competitions.
In Karelia, there are tournaments on the
folk game of kuyukka.
One of the most popular competitions in
Karelia is the Republican Festival of Sports Games "Onega Starts" (in
winter and summer sports); Russian championships in winter swimming and
winter triathlon are held in Petrozavodsk.
Since 2016, there has
been the Museum of the History of Karelian Sports in Petrozavodsk,
located in the Kurgan sports complex. The exposition covers the period
from 1918 to 2016.
The total length of the Russian-Finnish state border is 798.089 km,
including the land section - 661.1 km, the lake section - 101.89 km, the
river section - 30.106 km and is marked with 738 boundary markers.
In 2003, the functions of the Federal Border Service were
transferred to the FSB of Russia, under which the Border Service was
created. In 2004, the Border Directorate of the FSB of Russia for the
Republic of Karelia was formed as part of it.
The border
department consists of 3 border detachments stationed in the cities of
Kostomuksha (until 2012-2013 it was in the village of Kalevala),
Sortavala and Suoyarvi.
In the control zone of the Border
Directorate of the FSB of Russia in the Republic of Karelia there are
international checkpoints:
automobile: "Vartsilya", "Lutta",
"Suoperya"
railway: "Luttya", "Kivijärvi"
airport "Petrozavodsk"
There are five nominal border outposts on the territory of the
republic:
"named after the Hero of the Soviet Union I. T. Dotsenko",
"named after the Hero of the Soviet Union Kaimanov N. F.",
"named
after Senior Lieutenant Shmagrin M. T.",
"named after Sergeant
Busalov A. F.",
"named after I. M. Petrov (Toivo Vyahya)".
Parts of the Western Military District of the Ministry of Defense of
the Russian Federation are deployed on the territory of the Republic.
In Petrozavodsk are located:
10th artillery base of weapons
(Tomitsy, "First Town");
75th military car repair plant;
The 40th
Topographic and Geodetic Detachment (military unit 42396, Pervomaisky
Prospekt, 74), was formed on the basis of the 75th Military Automobile
Repair Plant.
The 30th base for storing weapons and equipment
(motorized rifle brigade) / 30th motorized rifle brigade (Petrozavodsk)
located in the city was disbanded on June 1, 2002.
Included in
the 1st Air Force and Air Defense Command (and until 2009 in the 6th
Army of the Air Force and Air Defense):
159th Guards Novorossiysk
Fighter Aviation Regiment (6961st air base, Besovets (Petrozavodsk-15);
armed with Su-27, Su-27UB, SU-35 fighters;
170th Guards Radio
Engineering Brigade Sands (Petrozavodsk).
The Russian-Finnish
border is guarded by the Border Service of the Federal Security Service
of the Russian Federation. Aviation of the FSB of Russia is based on the
airfield "Besovets".
The Ministry of Internal Affairs in the Republic of Karelia is part
of the system of internal affairs bodies of the Russian Federation and
is subordinate to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.
The
Minister of Internal Affairs for the Republic of Karelia is appointed by
decree of the President of the Russian Federation.
The structure
of the internal affairs bodies of the Republic of Karelia includes:
Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Republic of Karelia;
18
territorial subdivisions:
Department of the Ministry of Internal
Affairs of Russia for the city of Petrozavodsk;
Department of the
Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Kondopoga region;
Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the
Medvezhyegorsk region;
Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs
of Russia for the Prionezhsky district;
Department of the Ministry of
Internal Affairs of Russia for the Pudozhsky district;
Department of
the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Olonetsky district;
Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Segezha
region;
Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for
the Belomorsky district;
Department of the Ministry of Internal
Affairs of Russia for the Kalevalsky district;
Department of the
Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Kemsky district;
Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in the city of
Kostomuksha;
Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia
for the Lahdenpohsky district;
Department of the Ministry of Internal
Affairs of Russia for the Loukhsky district;
Department of the
Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Muezersky district;
Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the
Pitkyaranta region;
Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of
Russia for the Pryazha district;
Department of the Ministry of
Internal Affairs of Russia for the Sortavalsky district;
Department
of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Suojärvi district.
Petrozavodsk linear department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of
Russia on transport.
The day of the creation of the Ministry of
Internal Affairs in the Republic of Karelia is September 5, 1923.
On the territory of the Republic of Karelia, the Federal Penitentiary
Service is responsible for:
3 penal colonies:
institution
"Correctional Colony No. 1 of the Department of the Federal Penitentiary
Service for the Republic of Karelia" in the village of Nadvoitsy
institution "Correctional colony No. 7 UFSIN in the Republic of Karelia"
in Segezha
institution "Correctional Colony No. 9 of the Department
of the Federal Penitentiary Service for the Republic of Karelia" in
Petrozavodsk
medical correctional institutions:
medical
institution "Republican Hospital No. 2 UFSIN in the Republic of Karelia"
in Medvezhyegorsk
"Medical correctional institution No. 4 UFSIN in
the Republic of Karelia" in the Segezha district (Verkhniy village)
2
pre-trial detention centers:
institution "Detention Facility No. 1 of
the Federal Penitentiary Service for the Republic of Karelia" in
Petrozavodsk
institution "Detention Facility No. 2 of the Federal
Penitentiary Service for the Republic of Karelia" in Segezha
institution "Criminal Inspectorate of the Federal Penitentiary Service
for the Republic of Karelia"