Seseg Jigjitova, a Berlin-based illustrator from the Siberian republic of Buryatia, has emerged as a prominent critic of Russian colonialism and advocate for the rights of Buryats amid Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Buryatia, which shares a border of over 1,000 kilometers with Mongolia, has a population of just over 970,000, with 32% of residents identifying as ethnic Buryats, a Mongolic ethnic group indigenous to the region. A mountainous region rich in natural resources, Buryatia also covers 60% of the shoreline of Lake Baikal. The world’s largest freshwater lake, Baikal holds a sacred value for Indigenous communities living on its shores, including Buryats, but is now under threat from developers and business interests. Colonized by Russia in the 17th century, Buryats have grappled with preserving their native language and Buddhist religious traditions amid Moscow’s ongoing russification attempts.
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