Republic of Tyva

The Republic of Tyva, or Tuva, is Russia's most geographically and culturally isolated ethnic republic. Ethnic Tuvans account for more than 80% of the population, the local language remains dominant in daily life, and the republic also ranks among Russia's poorest by most measures, with child poverty and unemployment far above the national average. Despite this poverty, Tyva has been one of the most loyal to the federal government regions in Russia since the 1990s, delivering anomalously high vote results for whichever party holds power in Moscow. Politics has long been shaped by clan-based patronage networks under two long-serving leaders, Sherig-ool Oorzhak and Sholban Kara-ool.