This is just a snippet on Russia's weirdest ethno-cultural group from the radio, but I reda about this in Russian Newsweek (the intro to the article being here in Russian -- "Give Birth and Sing, Cossack Don!": http://www.runewsweek.ru/rubrics/?rubric=society&rid=530 . Last year, the Don Cossacks had of all things a beauty contest, in which the contestants had to, among other things Cossacky, carry water on their shoulders and catch fish with their bare hands. Anyway the winner of the contest, the 19-year-old Alyona something-or-other, was quoted by Newsweek as saying that although she is beginning university, that will not prevent her from beginning to fulfill the ataman's order as quickly as possible. ;) Da kazach'ya volya, da kazah'ya dol'ya!
Russian Cossacks Ordered To Have More Children To Boost Population Mayak Radio November 3, 2005
(Presenter) The Great Host of Don Cossacks will now engage in boosting the population. The Cossacks' families are now obliged to have at least five children. Lina Bulatova has details.
(Correspondent) The order that produced quite a stir had in fact been issued by Sergey Sennik, the leader of the Azov Cossack community. The order reads as follows: Cossacks with families should have as many children as possible, at least five.
Sergey Sennik believes that the conditions for raising children are there. Sennik has given (Cossacks) a year to fulfil the order. After this Cossack families will be obliged to have a child every two years. The best families will be paid benefits of R1,000.
Time will show what results the Azov initiative will bring. Meanwhile, the young Cossack leader Sergey Sennik has set an even higher standard for himself. He intends to have seven children. Although at present he is not even married.
Nu, zayats, pogodi!
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