Perm’s Komia (Russia)

Last modified: 2002-12-20 by antonio martins
Keywords: perm’s komia | komia | perm | zyryan | perna | w | # | national ornament |
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• Presentation of Perm’s Komia
• Description of the flag
• Former flag
• Alternate representations of the perna
• Ethnic flags?
• Coat of arms

• Komia
• Perm Region
• Russia
• Russian subdivisions (list and clickable map)

• Rocih’s page, where you can find information about the flag of the Komi-Permiak autonoumous okrug.
  reported by Dirk Schönberger, 05 Dec 2000

Presentation of Perm’s Komia

(Note: You need an Unicode-aware software and font to correctely view the cyrillic text on this page. See here transliteration details).

• Name (english): Perm’s Komia • (russian): Коми-Пермяцкий автономный округ | Komi-Permâckiĭ avtonomnyĭ okrug
  
• Local official language: Komian (a.k.a. Zyrian)
  
• Capital: Кудымкар | Kudymkar
• Area: 32 900 km² (≅12 700 sq.mi.) • Population: 150 300 inhabitants in 2000
• Status: Autonomous District (автономный округ | avtonomnyĭ okrug) within Perm Region
• Federal District: Volga • Economic region: Ural
• License plate code: 81 • Ham radio code: KP • ISO 3166-2 code: KOP
• Flag adopted on 1997.06.27 • Coat of arms adopted on 1996.02.12

Although related to the Komi (or Zyrans), Soviet divide-and-rule policies towards ethnic minorities dictated the establishment of a separate region for the Permyaki, and a National Area was created in 1925. Some Komi wish to unite their various regions into a Greater Komi Republic; such aspirations are unlikely to be permitted given the region's economic importance.
Stuart Notholt, 26 Sep 1995

The proportions of flag of Komi-Permiak AD was 2:3 according to law of Komi-Permiak AD About The Flag of Komi-Permiak AD from 12/02/96 (signed by governor N. Poluânov on 19.02.1996). But on 27/06/1997 new law #10 of Komi-Permiak AD About modifications of The law of Komi-Permiak AD "About The Flag of Komi-Permiak AD" from 12/02/1996 was passed (came into power on 14.07.1997). According this new law the flag of Komi-Permiak AD is red-white-blue and in the center of white stripe there is emblem — red perna; proportion of flag is 1:2. This law changed (defined a little) the description: «... red perna (two right and two left fragments in saltire)...». The ends of perna not touch to red and blue stripes.
Yury Rocich, 01 Feb 2000 and 03 Feb 2000, and Victor Lomantsov, 06 Mar 2000

I have a drawing of the emblem of Komi-Permiakskiy a.o., acquired in 1999. The perna (not "perma") is like a tilted "#".
Victor Lomantsov, 08 Dec 2000

Perna is some kind of national symbol of the Komi-Permiaks.
Dirk Schönberger, 05 Dec 2000

I’m willing to bet that the perna is some kind of sun sign. This version bears a topological resemblance to the sun sign in the flag of New Mexico.
Al Kirsch, 07 Dec 2000

This 2:3 version of the same flag was the official flag for the 1996.02.12-1997.06.27 period...
António Martins, 04 Feb 2000

Alternate representations of the perna

The problem is that the symbol isn’t described exactly in the regulation; it is considered “implicit knowledge”. The knowledge isn’t exactly wide-spread outside the Komi-Permiak territory.
Dirk Schönberger, 06 Dec 2000

Spoked-"#"-shaped perna

This version is another try on a correct version, based on an image of the coat of arms of the capital of Komi Permiak territory, Kudymkar, from this website. On these arms is shown a central symbol (perna). I tried to discuss the matter with some vex-colleagues of mine, and he stands to his opinion that this image (drawn after his description) is more correct. Unfortunately I don’t have a source.
Dirk Schönberger, 06 Dec 2000 and 08 Dec 2000

We have to asume that the emblems Kudymkar and Perm’s Komia itself show differently shaped pernas, respectively spoked and simple octothrope ("#"). Very strange..
António Martins, 15 Oct 2002

"W"-shaped perna

Our site used to show the perna emblem similar to a "W". What was the source for this?
António Martins, 01 May 2002

Some time ago it was popular belief that the perna is shaped similar to the letter "W", which is also possible, given the description...
Dirk Schönberger, 08 Dec 2000

Are these “ethnic” flags used at all? By whom? I’d expect “nationalists” in Komi Perma^kskii~ a okr to use an undefaced Komi flag. After all, the differences between “zirians” and “permyaki” are artificial and exogenous, and thus bound to be refused by pan-komian nationalists.
António Martins, 07 Feb 2000

The flag reported as adopted by Komi permiak in 1991 was blue green white (1:2:1).
Jaume Ollé, 06 Feb 2000

Nationalist people used the white green blue flag with emblem in upper hoist, colors based in the ones adopyted by their relatives Komi Zirian. But one think is people Komi Permiak and other is Komi Permiak AD.
Jaume Ollé, 06 Feb 2000

Emblem (coat of arms) of Komi-Permyak a.o. were adopted 12 Febr. 1996. The shield divided horizontally on three parts: red, white and blue. The white national emblem perna placed on red stripe; a red bear is on the white stripe.
Victor Lomantsov, 28 Mar 2001