Sami Parliament of Russia

The Kola Sámi Assembly (Куелнегк Соамет Соббар or Kuelnegk Soamet Sobbar) is an elected assembly established in 2010 by the Sámi people of the Kola peninsula in Russia, on the model of Sámi parliaments in Nordic countries. It is not recognised by the Russian government.

Establishment

On December 14, 2008 the 1st Congress of the Russian Sámi took place.[1] The Conference decided to demand the formation of a Russian Sámi Parliament, to be elected by the local Sámi. A suggestion to have the Russian Federation pick representatives to the Parliament was voted down with a clear majority. The Congress also chose a Council of Representatives that were to work for the establishment of a Parliament, and otherwise represent the Russian Sámi.

At the 2nd Congress of the Russian Sámi in Murmansk on December 12, 2010, the new Kuelnegk Soamet Sobbar (Kola Sámi Assembly) was elected. It was also decided that henceforward the Congress would be held every four years.[1] The aims of the Assembly are to represent the Sámi people and to work towards a recognised Russian Sámi Parliament.[2] According to one commentator, although "in the ... Assembly, the Kola Sámi have achieved their most unifying and representative structure to date", the extent to which the Murmansk regional authorities are prepared to work with this body remains unclear.[2]

Links with Sámi parliaments in other countries

Full participation for the Kola Sámi Assembly in the Sámi Parliamentary Council depends upon Sámi Parliaments in the other Nordic countries being prepared to accept it as a ‘Russian Sámi Parliament'.[2]

Norway

The Sámi Parliament of Norway was opened in 1989. Representatives of Sámi organizations in Russia have visited the Norwegian Sámi Parliament in Karasjok to learn more about the Norwegian Sámi Parliament.[3][4][5][6]

Sweden

The Sámi Parliament of Sweden is a representative body under the authority of the Swedish parliament. The Sámi Parliament of Sweden must comply with the decisions of the Swedish parliament,[7] which sometimes goes against the elected Sámi Parliament Members' party programs. The Sámi Parliament has no real power and the task is instead to enforce the decision of the Swedish parliament and government. In contrast to the Sámi Parliament of Sweden, the Kuelnegk Soamet Sobbar is initiated by the Russian Sámi, not by a government.

See also

References

External links

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