On December 23, 2019, the annual third conference (Congress) of the all-Russian public organization "Yazidi Congress"was held at the Golden ring hotel of the presidential administration of the Russian Federation.

The conference opened with a minute of silence in memory of Mirza Sloyan, the initiator of the "Yezidi Congress" and one of its founders, who died November 3, 2019, Then the floor was given to the eldest son Mirza Choloevich – Roman Mirzayevich Sloyan, who thanked all the Yezidis respect for the memory of his father and assured that he and his brother Slavik Sloyan intend to continue the work of Mirza Sloyan. He was followed by one of the founders of the Yezidi Congress, Telman Feroyan, who said that he intends to continue to fulfill his part of his voluntary commitments to Finance the activities of the Yezidi Congress TV channel — Lalish TV. At the same time, he noted that all Yazidis should be active in the issue of financing the activities of the TV channel, since the TV channel is nationwide and needs national support. 

The first item on the agenda of the conference were the Chairman of the "Yezidi Congress" Professor Samvel Kochoi. He proposed to the delegates of the conference a Report on the work for the reporting period. Samvel Mamadovich elaborated on various aspects of the activities of the Congress, its Board, scientific center, regional offices, Lalish TV channel and information site EzidiNews. He also spoke about the contacts of the Congress with Russian state authorities, representatives of foreign States in Russia, Yazidi organizations in Europe and the United States. Speaking about the tasks of the Congress for the new year, 2020, The President of the Congress, in particular, drew attention to the need for active participation of Yazidis in the all-Russian census, which will be held next autumn. "It is very important for us to know exactly how many of us are in Russia. It is important to know how to build relationships with the authorities and how to work with people," said Samvel Kochoi. 

At the end of his report, the President of the Congress addressed the representatives of the Yazidi clergy with a proposal to participate in the creation of the Spiritual Council of the Yazidis of Russia. Samvel Mamadovich offered the best Yazidi students to study science and write dissertations on the history and religion of the Yazidis. He suggested that intellectuals should not stand aside, but contribute to the revival of the Yazidi people. Separately, he addressed Yazidi businessmen, reminding them of the activities of Mirza Sloyan, who earned national love by selflessly helping his people, building temples, creating national television and funding science.

The report Of the President of the Congress was approved by the participants of the conference, who then moved on to other issues on the agenda of the conference. Further, the Report on revenues and expenditures of the Congress in 2019-2020 was approved and the updated composition of the Congress Board headed by Ruslan Javoyan was approved.

The conference was attended by delegates from the regional branches of the Congress, as well as guests and invited persons.

The conference thus concluded its work.               

Translated by David Babaev

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