This morning a very significant event took place in the lives of the Buddhists of the republic – the ritual of sanctification of Mt. Bai-Taiga was performed. For the past three years, the ritual has been attracting immense numbers of pilgrims. The head of Tuva, Sholban Kara-ool also participates. Since time immemorial it has been known that the sanctification of Mt. Bai-Taiga stimulates the sulde and khei-at (Spirit and Wind Horse).

The Tandy and Chaa-Khol kozhuuns were the first ones to start work on the objects entered into the “Nine Treasures” project (Tos Ertine) involving the attractions of the republic. Today, residents of Chaa-Khol kozhuun will start cleaning up and arranging the area at the estuary of Chaa-Khol river, where a Buddhist niche stands carved into the Sume rock. This niche had always been a place of worship for the local population, and the goal of tourist pilgrimages. In the 90’s, this area fell into the zone of Sayano-Shusenskoe dam, and the niche ended up under the water.

Tuvan physicians are warning the public about the danger of tick-borne encephalitis. Since the beginning of this year, four cases of infection by this deadly virus have been documented. As the chief physician of anti-epidemic station, Eduard Glushkov, announced, last year the specialists of this department, for purposes of annual studies, caught, with difficulty, about 8 thousand ticks in one month in Kyzyl; this year they have alreadycaught 15 thousand ticks in one week. And the numbers will keep growing, warn the health workers.

Members of the United Russia party, as part of the special project “Moya Pobeda” will renovate the old cemetery in the capital of the republic. Many veterans of the Front are buried there, and there is nobody to take care of their graves once their relatives die. The cemetery, which is in the center of the city, is showing signs of neglect. Here rests the dust of the Hero of the Soviet Union, Adyg-Tulush Baldanovich Kechil-ool, the legendary commander of Tuvan cavalry squadron, who liberated towns and villages of the Ukraine.

According to the research data of WWF, the conflict between the snow leopard and the residents of Western Tuva remains active. The leopards are in danger of getting shot by the herdsmen in revenge for attacks on domestic livestock. WWF continues to actively work with the herdsmen. The conflict between irbis and people originated when the local shepherds took their herds to graze in areas where this predator lives, and the normal population density of hoofed animals dropped off because of poaching.

Today, at the Central Museum of the Great Patriotic War, the exhibition “People's Republic of Tuva – Everything for common Victory!” opens in Moscow, and will remain open until the end of the anniversary year.

Today, the member of the Tuvan volunteer squadron, which liberated towns and villages of the Ukraine, Vera Chuldumovna Bailak, left for Moscow today.

The 85-year-old front-line soldier will participate tomorrow in the opening of the exhibition “Tuvinian National Republic – Everything for our common victory!” at the Central Museum of the Great Patriotic war on Poklonnaya gora.