The World Congresses of Finno-Ugric Peoples

1992 – 1st World Congress of Finno-Ugric Peoples in Syktyvkar, the capital of the Republic of Komi (the Russian Federation).

Main organiser: the Committee for the Renaissance of the Komi People. The 1st Declaration for the Co-operation of Finno-Ugric Peoples passed.


1996 – 2nd World Congress of Finno-Ugric Peoples in Budapest, organised by the Hungarian Society of the World Congress of Finno-Ugric Peoples. The plenary session of the Congress, opened by the President of Hungary, was held in the Parliament of Hungary. For the first time, work in sections took place. The Sections passed their recommendations for the Consultative Committee of Finno-Ugric Peoples.


2000 – 3rd World Congress of Finno-Ugric Peoples in Helsinki, Finland. The sessions were held in the Finlandiatalo. The main organiser was the Finland-Russia Society in co-operation with the M. A. Castrén Society. The Congress was first time visited by the Presidents of all Finno-Ugric nation states (Estonia, Hungary, Finland). The greeting by the President of the Russian Federation was presented by Mr. Blokhin, Minister of Ethnic Affairs. Mr. Lennart Meri, President of Estonia, presented the participants with an invitation to take part in the next Congress in Tallinn in 2004. The President emphasized the need for future co-operation between the Finno-Ugric family of peoples.


2004 – 4th World Congress of Finno-Ugric Peoples in Tallinn, Estonia.

The main theme of the Congress to be held from August 15 to 19, 2004 was Youth – the Hope and Future of Finno-Ugric Peoples. The Patron of the Congress was Mr Arnold Rüütel, President of the Republic of Estonia.

The fact that the Congress will be held in Tallinn was of enormous importance to Estonia. This will allow consolidating and diversify cultural exchange with all Finno-Ugric peoples. As the Finno-Ugric peoples form the ‘cultural rear’ of Estonians, they will help us define ourselves culturally in Europe. 

2008 – The 5th World Congress of Finno-Ugric Peoples in Khanty-Mansijsk, Russia.

The Congress was held from June 27-30, 2008. The forum, which drew around 300 people, followed the Russia-EU summit in the city.

Toomas Hendrik Ilves, president of Estonia, walked out of the congress hall during the speech of Konstantin Kossachov, head of the foreign affairs committee of the Russian Duma, who started to make insults and veiled threats against Estonia in his speech. Kossachov criticized Estonia by drawing parallels between the violence against the Mari national leaders and the Estonian police's use of force during the April riots in Tallinn 2007.