evidence: - The new communist government in Russia declared in 1921 that the protectorate established earlier by the Russian monarchy was invalid, thus establishing Tuva as an independent state. In reality, the so-called "Tannu-Tuva People’s Republic" that governed from 1921 until 1944 was Soviet puppetry. [...] Historically, the people of Tuva have been shamanists and Tibetan Buddhists. In 1931, there were 725 registered shamans in Tuva, half of whom were women. There are far fewer now. [...] The flag of the Republic of Tuva is a blue field with a white fiber cover of the same color bordering a yellow triangle on the hoist. White symbolizes silver and virtue.