Murtaza Rakhimov, in a lengthy interview with ``Nezavisimaya gazeta'' on 17 May, expressed concern that some State Duma deputies wish to transform Russia into a unitary state, which, he said, would deprive his republic of its present status as a sovereign state within the federation. He complained that the Duma is unilaterally altering articles of the Federation Treaty and seeking to discredit the August 1994 power-sharing treaty between the federation and Bashkortostan. Rakhimov also denied that the Russian Constitution is violated by a provision of the republican law on presidential elections stipulating that candidates must speak Bashkir in addition to Russian (see RFE/RL Newsline, 10 April 1997). In 1989, Bashkirs accounted for only 23% of the republic's population. Russians constituted the largest ethnic group (38%) followed by Tatars (27%).
20 мая 1997г. Радио ``Свобода'' / ``Свободная Европа'' --- Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty