Lost In Kalmykia | Europe's Weirdest Republic

We travel through Kalmykia, visiting Yashkul and speaking with local people while trying to hear the Kalmyk language. We explore the region’s Buddhist heritage, Soviet history, memorials to Stalin’s repression and the Afghan War, and a former gulag before being forced to leave town by guards. We ultimately miss the language performance we were seeking, but reflect on Kalmykia’s fascinating culture and hope to return.