One of leaders of the Erzya national movement and the defender of the rights of the Erzyans, Grigory Musalev received a traditional annual presidential award of Estonia. G. Musalev (Kshumantsyan Pirguzh) was among those whom the president of Estonia Toomas Hendrik Ilves awarded for efforts on support of ethnic minorities and preservation of their national identity, Fenno-Ugria reports (Tallinn).

G. Musalev will receive the Cross of Maaryamaa of the V degrees, for a contribution to development the Erzya language.  Altogether, in 2014 on the eve of the Independence Day, 99 people will traditionally receive awards and medals for special merits from  the hands of the Estonian president T. H. Ilves . G. Musalev (1940 year of birth) is the leader of the Erzya national movement, or Inyazor. In 1990 he was among the founders of the "Mastorava" organization. He is the chairman of the public Fund of rescue of the Erzya language founded in 1993 and the editor of the "Erzyan Mastor" newspaper issued by the same fund. "Erzyan Mastor" – for today the only newspaper which is oppositional to the authorities of Mordovia, and G. Musalev is welcomed not especially by the authorities in his native republic. In Mordovia it is accepted to call the Erzyans and Moksha with the general name "The Mordvins", but G. Musalev always acted as the defender of Erzyans as separate people. According to G. Musalev, Inyazor is the person who unites the people, stands up for its defense. He sees his task in the same – to protect the Erzya culture, language, traditions, to defend interests of the people before the government, to organize ritual actions, ceremonies and holidays.

At the initiative of G. Musalev each three years since 1999 the Erzyans became to carry out the All-Erzyan ceremonial prayers Rasken Ozks originating about 400 years ago. It is the only Erzya national holiday which received in Mordovia the state status and since 2004 it is celebrated officially. Thousands of people gather for prayers, but nevertheless the part of orthodox clergy considers this action to be pagan and connected with powers of darkness.

G. Musalev repeatedly urged the compatriots to accept old Erzya names. He appropriated a name of Kshumantsyan Pirguzh in honor of the founder of his native village Kshumatsi.

In 2013 G. Musalev visited Estonia by the invitation of "Fenno-Ugria" Institution and took part in the actions devoted to Day of the Erzya language. Together with other representatives of the Erzya national movement they met the president T. H. Ilves, discussing preservation of a language and cultural heritage, and also cooperation of the Finno-Ugric people.