Finno-Ugric Open Forum — A Look to the Future

On August 28, representatives of various Finno-Ugric peoples from around the world gathered in Narva, the Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture 2025, to participate in the Finno-Ugric Open Forum. The forum discussed the situation of Finno-Ugric languages, the challenges facing the international Finno-Ugric movement, described the changes necessary for the sustainable development of languages and cultures, and sought to make sense of international Finno-Ugric cooperation in a new geopolitical context.

The forum was held at the House of Ingria in Narva, and its mission was to provide an open space for activists, researchers, cultural workers, and other interested parties. The forum continued a tradition started in 2016 by the Finno-Ugric Open Congress in Lahti, Finland, after Russia attempted to paralyse the work of Finno-Ugric congresses around the world and silence any criticism of the situation of Finno-Ugric peoples and languages living on its territory.

The topics of discussion were the current situation of Finno-Ugric peoples and their languages, the strengths and weaknesses of the Finno-Ugric movement: achievements, problems, challenges; changes necessary for the sustainable development of languages and cultures; and the relaunch of international Finno-Ugric cooperation in the new geopolitical situation.

PROGRAMME
10:00–10:30 Opening of the forum
10:30 – 11:00 Panel 1 “Finno-Ugric peoples and languages today: a focus on the Baltic Sea region”
Moderator: Britt-Kathleen Mere
Speakers: Sofia Johanna Rova; Tuomo Kondie; Ekaterina Kuznetsova; Hipp Saar; Madis Arukask

11:30 – 12:30 Panel 2 “Finno-Ugric peoples and languages today: Permic focus”
Moderator: Bogáta Timár
Speakers: Aleksei Ivanov, Natalia Kovylyaeva, Alex Anisimovs, Lana Pylayeva, Artyom Medvedev (online).

13:30 – 14:30 Panel 3 “Political changes that ensure the preservation and development of languages”
Moderator: Pavel Ivlev
Speakers: Aleksander Bolkin, Jukka Mallinen, Mitia Laius, Sampsa Holopainen (online), Juku-Kalle Raid

15:30 – 16:30 Panel 4 “The international Finno-Ugric movement: today and tomorrow”
Moderator: Kersti Kivirüüt
Speakers: Rune Bjerkli, Oliver Loode, Anti Lillak, Edina Csüllog

16:30 – 17:45 Open microphone
17:45 – 18:00 Summary and closing remarks

The forum can be watched below (link).