On October 21st, 2025, it became known that a former soldier who participated in the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine, referred to domestically as the “special military operation”, had been appointed Deputy Director of the publishing house Periodika in Karelia. The decision might appear administrative in nature. However, within the broader political and cultural context of Karelia, this development raises serious concerns.
Periodika has long stood as the principal publishing institution safeguarding the Karelian, Vepsian, and Finnish languages and cultural heritage on Finnic land. The appointment of a former combatant, whose background is rooted in an ideologically charged conflict, to a leadership position within such an institution signals a potential shift in its mission and priorities.
From a psychological and organization standpoint, individuals transitioning directly from military service, particularly from a conflict justified through state ideology, often bring with them hierarchical, command-oriented worldview. While this mindset can function effectively in structured military settings, it tends to suppress the dialogue, creativity, and pluralism upon which cultural and linguistic institutions depend. In a publishing house dedicated to diversity of expression and the preservation of indigenous identity, such an approach risks silencing internal debate, constraining editorial freedom, and redirecting creative focus towards narratives aligned with dominant state ideology rather than local cultural preservation.
Nikita Tkachenko, appointed to the position of deputy director at Periodika
At a systemic level, this appointment reflects a broader process of cultural instrumentalization documented across the Russian Federation in recent years. Cultural and educational institutions are increasingly being used to promote ideological conformity and reinforce the notion of a “single Russian world”. By positioning a loyal veteran of the so-called “special military operation” within Periodika’s leadership, the state effectively gains a mechanism of control over the most important publisher of indigenous-language media in Karelia. The risk is that Periodika could gradually transform from a platform of cultural preservation into a conduit for centralized messaging. A platform that privileges Russian historical narratives and state symbols over local traditions and languages.
This is especially concerning, considering that Periodika, being a state owned institution, already has limited editorial freedom. The publishing house already operates under constant oversight from administrative bodies, which monitor its publications to ensure alignment with official narratives. As a result, editors and contributors must exercise significant caution in selecting topics, avoiding any material that could be perceived as politically “sharp” or critical of state policies. This environment of vigilance and self-restraint has led to subtle persistent form of self-censorship, where cultural preservation must coexist with the need to remain acceptable to state authorities. While such conditions stop short of direct censorship, they effectively narrow the space for open cultural and linguistic expression. The newly appointed, state loyal Deputy Assistant however, might turn self-censorship, into state controlled censorship.
To understand the deeper implications of this decision, it is important to recall the sequence of events that weakened Periodika prior to this appointment.
In late 2024, reports emerged that Periodika faced significant funding cuts, prompting public concern that it might be forced to halt publication of its magazines in Karelian, Vepsian, and Finnish. Local activists clarified that complete closure was not expected, but that the magazines would be reduced in size and printed in black and white rather than color. Even so, the cuts were seen as arbitrary and unjustified, given than the publishing house’s budget had already been approved. Around the same time, Periodika’s signage was removed from the entrance of its building, a gesture that many interpreted as a symbolic attempt to diminish its public presence.
By the string of 2025, internal difficulties had intensified. Employees publicly appealed for assistance, revealing that many staff members had been forced to resign due to unsustainably low wages. The remaining employees sent a collective letter to local authorities, requesting a salary increase to at least meet the regional minimum wage. Their request was denied. According to one local activist, who spoke on condition of anonymity, inadequate pay has been a long-term issue for the state-funded publisher. Such conditions constitute a breach of international obligations of the Russian Federation, specifically Article 7(a)(ii) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which guarantees fair remuneration that provides workers with a decent living for themselves and their families.
The front door of "Periodika" then and now
The financial weakening of Periodika, coupled with the growing state focus on promoting Russian cultural dominance, has led many observers to suspect a deliberate strategy of eroding the independence of Karelia’s main cultural institution. Under constant financial strain, self-censorship, and now a leadership reshaped by ideological loyalty, Periodika’s role as a guardian of Finnic identity appears increasingly at risk.
What has long served as a living archive of Karelian, Vepsian, and Finnish culture may, under these conditions, be transformed into an instrument of cultural assimilation. The appointment of a former soldier to a senior position, when viewed alongside the gradual financial administrative undermining of the publishing house, suggest not coincidence but continuity – a sustained effort to consolidate state influence over institutions dedicated to indigenous self-expression and linguistic survival.
The diminishing role of Periodika raises serious concerns regarding the cultural rights of Karelia’s indigenous peoples. International agreements, including the ICCPR and CESCR, protect the right of indigenous peoples to freely maintain, practice, and promote their cultural identities. Any policy or administrative decision that undermines Periodika’s capacity to serve the Karelian, Vepsian, and Finnish communities therefore constitute a violation of these fundamental human rights.