Nationhood and Colonial Continuity in the Russian Federation

This event features Free Peoples of Russia House research fellow Mark Bennett presenting a comparative case study on non-Russian republics within the Russian Federation. The struggle for freedom in Russia has never been exclusively Slavic; for centuries, non-Russian peoples have existed as colonial subjects with suppressed political aspirations.

Focusing on Tatarstan, Yakutia (Republic of Sakha), and Chechnya, Bennett examines how geography, ethnic composition, and Moscow’s evolving strategies have shaped each region’s trajectory. Drawing on regional scholarship and primary-source interviews, he traces Soviet nationalities policy, internal border formation, and the construction of legal and fiscal dependencies between center and periphery.

Placing these cases side by side, Bennett highlights mechanisms of control — from resource extraction and economic dependency to cultural suppression and selective violence — challenging the notion of Russia as a unified nation-state and underscoring the growing political relevance of its diverse republics.

Hors d'oeuvres and refreshments will be provided.
RSVP is recommended, and donations welcomed.

Free People of Russia House, an organization that is opposed to the current Russian regime and fully supports Ukrainian independence and territorial integrity. See less
Washington D.C.

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