Text taken from a post on dzen.ru by A. Stepanov
Commentary by Russian military journalist Boris Rozhin is in italics
[ColonelCassad] We recently experienced another historical scandal. In Tuva, local authorities decided to establish an order in honor of Subedei, an outstanding commander of Genghis Khan. The Order of Subedei is a new regional award, established in the Republic of Tuva on May 19, 2026. Genghis Khan's comrade-in-arms was indeed born in the territory of modern-day Tuva. The order is awarded for:
• exceptional merit in the defense of the Fatherland;
• courage and bravery shown in defending the territorial integrity and interests of Russia.
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It should be noted that regional orders have become quite widespread in the "new, democratic Russia." In Kalmykia, there is a medal of Ayuki Khan, an ally of Peter the Great and a participant in the all-Russian wars. In Chechnya, there is an order of Kadyrov, the father of the current head of the region, and no one is outraged about this. In Karelia, our emphatically Orthodox governor, Artur Parfenchikov, also established the Order of Sampo. (Let me remind you that the miraculous Sampo mill from the Kalevala, which grinds an indefinite amount of bread, salt, and money, is a completely pagan image, embodying the Karelian people's eternal dream of endless freebies.)
The Order of Subedei falls into the same category, but with one peculiarity: the chosen hero fought against the Russian principalities. Of course, professional Russians immediately made their mark.
I read: According to Yegor Kholmogorov, the "Order of Subedei" project in Tuva is extremely harmful and dangerous to the unity of Russia. The expert recalls that Subedei commanded the Mongol tumens that routed the Russian princes at the Battle of the Kalka River in 1223 and is personally responsible for the brutal reprisal against the surrendering soldiers:
"The surrendered Russians, led by Mstislav, Prince of Kiev, were thrown to the ground, boards were laid on top, and the Mongols, led by Subedei, feasted on their bodies," the publicist notes.
All true, but it would be shameful for a Russian Kholmogorov not to know the contents of Russian chronicles, which dispassionately report that the same princes had previously killed the Mongol ambassadors. Even in that era, this was considered an entirely immoral act, requiring a retaliatory response. Not to mention that such an approach would require the demolition of all monuments to Saint Prince Vladimir.
More here - WHO WAS THE FIRST FOREIGN AGENT IN RUSSIA? | Alexander Stepanov | Zen)
Regarding the Order of Subedei, I'll quote my article on the Karelian website "Chernika" here:
"Subedei-Bagatur is a truly outstanding military leader. A blacksmith's son who rose to the rank of commander, he served for about fifty years and led campaigns from Northern China to Hungary. By 13th-century standards, with its level of organization, communications, and logistics, this is simply fantastic."
Another issue is that all these Mongol campaigns were accompanied by massacres and other atrocities. However, to be objective, one must admit that the level of cruelty in that era was roughly the same for everyone—the Crusaders, the Chinese, the Persians, the Mongols, and even the Russians.
It's only natural that the establishment of the order provoked a predictable reaction from a number of public figures, such as State Duma deputy Milonov. Critics point out that Subedei participated in the devastation of Russian lands in the 13th century, and they consider it inappropriate to name an award for participants of the SVO after him.
However, there is an important point here, which also concerns Karelia. Critics of the new Tuvan award pose the question as if the Horde invasion and its consequences were an absolute evil, impossible to tolerate even 800 years later. As the saying goes, we will not forget, we will not forgive!
But then how are we to evaluate the facts of collaboration with the conquerors, as described by the historian Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin?
"Batu received Yaroslav with respect and named him Head of all the Princes of Russia, handing over Kiev to him... Thus, our sovereigns solemnly renounced the rights of an independent people and bowed their necks to the yoke of the barbarians. Yaroslav's actions served as an example for the Appanage Princes of Suzdal..."
To be clear: Prince Yaroslav is the same one to whom a monument was erected in Sortavala, as the organizer of the mythical "baptism of the Karelians." So, is he a hero or a collaborator? From Deputy Milonov's perspective, the answer is obvious...
But Prince Yaroslav's son went even further! Alexander Yaroslavich repeatedly visited the Horde and, if the chronicles are to be believed, became a sworn brother to Batu's son. The prince strove to regularly pay the Horde's tribute. And in 1252, when Alexander's brother, Andrei Yaroslavich, rebelled against him, the Mongols supported Nevsky, sending a punitive army led by Nevryuy to Russia.
So, if we mercilessly criticize the Order of Subedei, we must also reconsider our assessments of some Russian princes. And the "holy and faithful Prince Alexander Nevsky" suddenly becomes an obvious collaborator.
Of course, honest historians know that such ancient events must be approached from the standpoint of historicism, that is, judging both Subedei and Nevsky by the standards of their time.
On the other hand, the actions of the Tuvan deputies revealed that "traditional values" can become a source of conflict... After all, they are called traditional precisely because they have evolved over centuries in different cultures in their own ways. For some, traditional values ​​include loyalty to Orthodoxy and the memory of the devastation of Russian lands. For some, it is respect for an ancestor who rose from humble beginnings to become the greatest commander of the era.
The initiative of the Tuvan deputies could be considered a provocation, beneficial to nationalists of both nations. However, the Order of Subedei is like a mirror in which we see ourselves: do we really know our history, are we ready for dialogue, can we respect the memory of others without denying our own? For now, the answer to this question remains open.
POSTSCRIPT. The author cannot help but note another ironic moment in this entire story. The fact is that in 1240, the great Tuvan (or Mongol) commander Subedei was able to take Kiev. Many hundreds of years later, another great commander associated with Tuva was unable to do the same…
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In addition to this, I will also note that Tuva once had good and proper local awards and symbols.
1. The Order of the Tuvan Arat Republic.
2. The Coat of Arms of the Republic.
(c) A. Stepanov
Regarding Subedei, yes, he was one of the greatest commanders of the era. It's a shame he wasn't ours; we suffered greatly at his hands.
However, we have plenty of our own, including in the 13th century. Most importantly, our own commanders were eventually able to shake off the yoke and reverse the conquests of Genghis Khan's commanders.When I visited Kyrgyzstan and Buryatia, I noted the great popularity of Genghis Khan among the locals, plus discussions about who is closer to the original Genghisids (besides the Mongols themselves).
Last year in Ulan-Ude, I stayed at the Genghis Khan Hotel. It was terrifying. Even though the entire city center is covered in hammers and sickles and stars, plus there's a huge head of Lenin in the republic's central square.
Russia is diverse. But not all ethnically oppressed people understand this.