Chylgychy Ondar, deputy of the State Duma, is elected head of the Tuvan Union of writers. Ondar, actor by profession, represents Tuva in the lower chamber of the Russian Parliament since his election in 1999 from the post of the Vice-Prime-minister. In 2003 he was reelected. He is known as a talented playwrite. When he was minister of culture of Tuva his plays began being staged in the Tuvan Drama Theatre. Now they comprise the better part of the theatre repertoir. Tuvan writers hope that Ondar's election into the head of the Writers' Union will easen publication of their works which now can await publishing for years.