A state of emergency has not been canceled in the Republic of Tuva yet. The state of emergency was announced over numerous forest fire in the republic on September 4. 10 serious forest fires have not been extinguished in Tuva, as Vladimir Nedelin, deputy-chairman of the republican government, told a KNews correspondent. Forests are on fire in the remote areas, where helicopters must be used.

However, local funds and finances from the reserve fund of the Russian Federation are not enough to ensure air flights to the fire areas. Tuva had already requested extra financing in the Russian Government. Due to the resignation of former Russian PM Mikhail Fradkov, the problem remains unsolved, Nedelin stated.

Spirituality runs deep in the remote Russian Republic of Tyva. While Shamanism is the unofficial religion there, Lamaism, or Tibetan Buddhism, is the official one. But most people don’t have to choose between the two, since shamans and lamas don’t have a grudge against each other.

Tuva is located in Southern Siberia, in one of the most isolated regions of Russia. Its people’s native religion is Shamanism – a belief in spirits inhabiting everything around them.

Going to a shaman is as common for Tuvans as going to a doctor. But nowadays Tuvan shamans don’t live in woods. They drive cars, live in normal houses and even pay taxes as private entrepreneurs.

3 days running every two hours Russia Today channel aired from Tuva. The first day, September 6, was devoted to touristic and economic prospects of Tuva. Here is a story. The firstyNever mind foreigners, many Russians know little about the Republic of Tyva and don't even know where it is. There's no train service to this remote region of southern Siberia, and flights to Tyva are few and far between. Only one road connects it with the rest of Russia.

Yet this secluded region is extraordinary in many respects. It's people, although poor, have an unusual culture. And their dramatic landscape is unspoilt.

Tuva does not fit any stereotypical image of Russia. The republic’s capital Kyzyl is the geographical centre of Asia, and oriental flavours are clearly seen in the Buddhist shrines in the streets, and in the Tuvan people themselves, who speak their native language rather than Russian

An emergency regime has been announced in four regions of Tuva over big forest fires, a duty officer of the republic’s forest agency told Itar-Tass on Tuesday. Over the past 24 hours the number of fire beds increased from 32 to 36 scorching big acreage of 1,900 hectares. Dry weather triggered Tuva’s forest fires in late August.

The Supreme Court of the Republic of Tuva came to a conclusion that there had been evidence of bribery in the actions of Nikolay Dubrovskiy, president of the Tyva State University, deputy of the House of Representatives of the Great Khural (Tuvan parliament).

In early September a wide range of events will be held in Tuva to support the forthcoming public prayer about longevity of Dalai Lama, which Russian Buddhists plan to hold in Tibetan residence of their spiritual leader in Dharamshala in November.

As the official Web site of the Tuvan Government reported, sand mandalas of Medicine Buddha, who protects living beings from sickness, will be made in the republic as part of preparation for the forthcoming prayer. Some important Tantric rituals, where residents and guests of the republic will be able to take part, will be held in Tuva. The sand mandalas of Medicine Buddha will be built by monks of the Gyudmed Tibetan Tantric Monastery, who had been rendering assistance to Tuva in the revival of Buddhist traditions. The Gyudmed monks will hold the ceremony of the big praying drum, which they had built for donations last year.

President Vladimir Putin and Monaco's Prince Albert II traded opulent imperial settings in St. Petersburg for an 8th century fortress and a Mongolian nomadic tent in a southern Russian region Monday, as the Monegasque prince continued his vacation in Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prince Albert II of Monaco have arrived at the Tuva republic. Russian Emergency Situations Minister Sergei Shoigu and head of the Tuva government Sholban Kara-ool were meeting them at Kyzyl airport. From the airport Putin and Albert II flew by helicopter to the Por-Bazhyn fortress.