LEADING ARTICLE. The first results of the Census are
analyzed in Boris Kagarlitsky and Orkhan Djemal's article "Yes, We're Skiffs.
Yes -- Papuans." The reliability of Russian Censuses was always doubtful,
but even against such a colorful background, the 2002 Census could enter
history as one of the most scandalous ones. The slogan "Write yourself
into the history of Russia" seemed downright insulting -- as if there is
no other way for our citizens to leave their mark. It's not surprising
that eluding the
Census became a mass phenomenon. Non-participation became something
of a vote "against all candidates" -- an ineffective and senseless, but
large-scale protest. The Census showed that out country is rife with
representatives of exotiЯ and vanished peoples (Incas, Skiffs, Papuans).
It turns out we have hundreds of Martians and whole armies of Hobbits.
In Salekharde they tried so hard that they were able to register a whole
101.4% of the population ? and this is despite the mass boycott.