During the annual "Year in Review" press conference, Russian President Vladimir Putin, responding to a question about support for young families, noted the tradition of early marriages in the North Caucasus. He said he believed this was "right" and suggested "following their example," citing Ramzan Kadyrov's large family.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs has put the deputy head of the Congress of the Oirat-Kalmyk people, Vladimir Dovdanov, on the wanted list. Previously, a criminal case was opened against him for calls for activities directed against the security of Russia. He is charged with calling on the Armed Forces of Ukraine to destroy Russian equipment.
Last year, Vladimir Dovdanov, as well as his colleague, ex-chairman of the Kalmyk branch of the Yabloko party Batyr Boromangnaev, were fined 70 thousand rubles under the article on calls for violating the territorial integrity of Russia. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the reason for drawing up protocols was their video recordings of a “destructive nature.” Dovdanov and Boromangaev themselves now live abroad.
“In my videos and interviews, I constantly speak out in support of Ukraine. I am also ready to participate in the assembly of the Kalmyk volunteer formation if the leadership of Ukraine makes such a decision. We will still liberate our republic and will be independent from Moscow; we are not on the same path with the Russians,” commented Dovdanov.
At the beginning of March 2022, the Congress of the Oirat-Kalmyk people demanded the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine, supported the Ukrainian people, and also called on the citizens of Kalmykia not to go to war.