The Penza regional branch of the Russian Geographical Society starts a large-scale international project "Modern Ethno-world Ethnographic expedition". Its participants are going to study the culture, life and traditions of ethnic Russian and Russian-speaking peoples living in the post-soviet territories of Central Asia.
The organizers plan to carry out ethnographic expeditions to the countries of the Central Asian region: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. During the first phase, in October 2018, the participants of the expedition will visit the places of residence of Russian and Russian-speaking peoples in the post-soviet territories of the Republic of Uzbekistan: Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara.
September 7, as part of the preparation for the field phase of the expedition, a working meeting of the organizers and participants of the ethnographic expedition to Uzbekistan was held at Penza State University, one of the major partners of the project.
Photo: Maxim Bitkov
Igor Pantjushov, the head of the Penza regional branch of the Society, the ideologist and leader of the expedition, spoke about goals and tasks of the project. According to him, Central Asia, despite a considerable number of works devoted to it, still remains largely terra incognita.
Conferences, round tables and other thematic events with participation of young people will be held at Penza State University. According to rector of the university Alexander Gulyakov, students and teachers of the university will participate in research and educational work of the project.
Photo: Maxim Bitkov
There is great work ahead of the organizers and participants: preparation for a long trip to Uzbekistan, where organizational support to the participants is provided by the Uzbek community of the Penza region.
A press conference with expedition members will be held in late September.