Ahead of Russia Day, the “Polylog” Foundation for the Development of Interethnic Relations submitted a proposal to Russian President Vladimir Putin to grant Navruz the status of a national holiday.

The Foundation’s initiative is linked to the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia and aligns with the government’s policy agenda for preserving the cultural and linguistic diversity of the country’s peoples. This is stated in the Foundation’s appeal to the head of state.

The authors of the initiative request that relevant government agencies be tasked with developing possible legal mechanisms for implementing this proposal. The Foundation believes that such a step will be one of the landmark decisions of the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia.

“Navruz is one of the oldest holidays of the peoples of Eurasia. In ethnographic and journalistic tradition, there is a view that this holiday originated in Altai more than 3,000 years ago, meaning it predates all major religions. In the modern perception, it retains, above all, cultural, natural-calendar, and social significance. For many peoples of Russia, it is associated with historical memory, family tradition, respect for elders, good neighborliness, and cultural continuity,” the statement reads.

The “Polylog” Foundation emphasizes that Navruz should not be viewed solely as a regional or ethnocultural holiday. According to the foundation, its significance is broader: it is associated with the ideas of renewal, peace, harmony, hospitality, and mutual support.

A separate argument cited in the appeal is Russian Federation Government Decree No. 1228-r of May 26, 2026, which approved a plan of measures for implementing the Fundamentals of the State Language Policy of the Russian Federation. The document includes measures for the preservation and development of the state languages of the republics of the Russian Federation and other languages of the peoples of Russia.

The Foundation believes that language, culture, collective memory, and festive traditions form a unified space of national identity. Therefore, the recognition of Navruz at the national level could serve as a continuation of state policy aimed at preserving cultural diversity and strengthening interethnic harmony.

“For a multi-ethnic Russia, such decisions have not only cultural but also socio-political significance. Navruz speaks a language understood by different peoples: renewal, family, respect, peace, and good neighborliness. In the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia, recognizing this tradition could send an important signal of respect for the contribution of the country’s peoples to the shared Russian identity,” — noted Ramil Kerimov, head of the “Polylog” Foundation for the Development of Interethnic Relations.

Navruz is celebrated on March 21 and symbolizes the beginning of spring and the renewal of nature. UNESCO classifies it as one of the cultural traditions of many peoples, associated with the values of peace, intergenerational solidarity, reconciliation, and good neighborliness. In 2009, Navruz was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and in 2010, the UN General Assembly proclaimed March 21 as International Navruz Day.