Danhajaa Hovalyg Russia belongs to a minority nation called the Tuvans. He is an activist, author and host of the Republic Speaks podcast, which opposes Russia’s war in Ukraine. He left his home region because Russia became a dangerous country for him.
In what situation do you answer this call?
– At the moment I am in Montenegro. It’s very hot here. I’m not used to the Balkan climate, so this is tough. I work here.
Danhajaa Hovalyg is a Tuva name. What does your name mean?
– Danhajaa literally means early dawn. I’ve hated my name almost all my life because Russians pronounce it wrong. My first name caused so much headache that as a child my mother started calling me Dana. As an adult, I realized that my name is not Dana and I don’t want to use it.
Tuva is a Russian republic located far from Moscow on the Mongolian border. Do you see yourself as Tuvan or Russian?
– I am a barefoot Tuva resident. My whole family was born and lived in the territory of the Republic of Tuva. I have Chinese and Mongolian roots. It is common in Tuva, which was occupied for centuries by both Manchurians and Mongols. 88 percent of the inhabitants of the Republic belong to the indigenous people.
There are about 280,000 people from Tuva, and they speak the Tuva language, which is similar to Turkish languages. You have attended a Russian-speaking kindergarten and school. Why didn’t you go to school for shelter?
– I knew Russia better than I knew by the time I was in primary school. It was important to my teacher that I learn Russian without an accent. At home and at school, it was assumed that I would move out of Tuva after university studies. I can talk about everyday things in the Tuva language. Otherwise, I speak Russian.
Tuvans and other indigenous peoples face discrimination in Russia. How have experiences of discrimination shaped your attitude towards your origin?
– I started questioning my Tuva identity when I was bullied at a summer camp outside of Tuva. I concluded that Tuva children were bullied because we were worse than Russians. For a long time I tried to blend in with the mainstream population and become Russian.
When I moved to Moscow to study, I repeatedly experienced discrimination there. Name-calling, threats and discrimination in the rental market were common experiences. I was very angry, but I hid my anger inside. I felt that I had lost a part of the Tuva world view at the expense of the Russian one. It also caused tension in my family relationships.
You say you are a feminist and an anti-war and decolonial activist. What is a decolonial activist fighting for?
– It is often thought that colonial thinking and its phenomena have remained in history. This is not the case. Russia practices colonial policy even within its own borders. The Kremlin has taken away the possibility of autonomous political decision-making from the republics. The areas’ precious raw materials are mined without caring about the consequences for the environment and the residents.
How is colonial policy reflected in Tuva and other Russian republics?
– Asian republics lose to Moscow in statistics measuring life expectancy, quality of life, wealth and education. In addition, Russia has violently suppressed the national movement since the 1990s. Since the 2010s, the status of the Russian language has been strengthened, while at the same time the status of indigenous languages has been systematically weakened. The Kremlin does not respect the indigenous peoples’ right to exist.
You became an activist when Russia invaded Ukraine. How have you opposed the war?
– I participated in the protests. When information began to come out that a lot of Tuvan soldiers die in Ukraine relative to the population, I became aware of what the future of the native population could be like. I felt it was unfair that the people of Tuvan were put into cannon fodder because of the Russian nationalist idea. I want to tell the people of Tuva that recruiting the native population to the front is part of Russia’s colonial policy.
How has the war changed Russia’s attitude towards republics?
– Russia has increasingly started to engage in theatrical activities, the purpose of which, due to the form, is to remind that Russia is a culturally and ethnically diverse country. However, the problems of indigenous peoples are not allowed to be discussed in public. The state is currently funding cultural projects that support the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine.
Does the Russian military treat indigenous soldiers differently than Russian soldiers?
– Yes. The criteria for launching a business discriminate against indigenous men. Men in poor republics often do not have the security of a place to study and, for example, a job in the IT field. They also cannot afford to go into hiding abroad.
In war, speakers of minority languages often find themselves closer to the front line, because Russia forms messenger groups from representatives of minority languages to deliver secret messages. Minority workers have reported poor equipment and non-existent training. It is known that Russian soldiers of Asian background spend longer periods as prisoners of war than others.
What kind of messages is the Russian state sending to Tuva people right now?
– State propaganda is widely spread in the republics. I think the Kremlin is afraid that those who self-identify as non-Russian may start a rebellion against the central government. The authorities monitor activities online and on the streets. People are jailed and convicted for anti-war expressions.
How has Russia’s machinery of violence changed during the war?
– Home searches, interrogations and wiretapping have become quite common. I’m afraid it’s only a matter of time before the penalties for opposing the war get tougher. The authorities threaten and pressure the families of activists more and more often. I am safe abroad, but I am worried about my relatives.
You have lived in Moscow and Germany for eight years. Do you want to return to your home region?
– I can’t go back anytime soon because it would be dangerous. I have lived in Germany for a year and a half and life in a democratic state has changed me. I don’t know if I could live anymore in a place where my sense of security is constantly being tested. I dreamed that I could work to preserve Tuva’s cultural and historical heritage. One day, my husband and I want to travel to Tuva and celebrate our wedding in the traditional Tuva way.
In this series of stories, we call Russians and look for answers to what is happening to representatives of various professions, civil society, journalists and activists in Russia.
The subject can be discussed until Tuesday, August 1, until 11 p.m.