References to the Bashkirian nationalist movement in Bashkortostan and the treatment of non-Bashkirians, particularly with respect to employment, are scarce among the resources consulted by the Research Directorate.

Although "there are representatives of more than 100 nationalities" living in Bashkortostan, the majority of the population is comprised of three ethnic groups: the Bashkirs (22%), Tatars (29%) and Russians (39%) (RFE/RL 26 Aug. 1997; Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology 1998). A summary of the report titled Bashkiria, Russian Federation: A Model of Ethnological Monitoring, found on the Website of the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Russian Academy of Sciences, reported that

Despite significant ethnic mixing especially in industrially developed cities, one can track definite communities, that is concentrated population of certain national membership. Bashkirs are in the eastern region of the republic, where they constitute more than half of the population. Russians are in the central part of the republic, primarily in Ufa [the capital city] and also partly in the south. Tartars are mainly in the western region (1998).

This report also states that there is a "high share of nationally mixed marriages, particularly in the cities" and the "prominent number of Bashkir-Tartar marriages which in rural regions reaches 1/3" (ibid.).

The Bashkirs are reported to dominate "positions of power" in Bashkortostan; the same report states that Bashkirs make up 40-50% of the legislative chamber, 70% of the system of executive power and 60% of local administrative organs (ibid.).

The president of Bashkortostan must speak both Russian and Bashkir (ibid., Centre for Russian Studies 19 Mar. 1998; Nationalities Papers 1998; Manchester Guardian Weekly 24 May 2000); a situation which "does limit the potential of those not of Bashkir nationality aspiring to the post of president" (Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology 1998). Further,

Key positions in the presidential administration of Bashkiria also belong to the Bashkirs. Meanwhile local Bashkir public organizations are demanding that the rights of ethnic Bashkirs concerning the occupation of various posts be out [sic] in law by means of special quotas. ...

Local Russian and Tatar public organizations are strongly opposed to this. The statement being made is that the "fruits of the new 'governmentalism'" are to be enjoyed by only a minority of the population of Bashkiria. It is specifically this ethnocracy in the Republic that is bringing about the deterioration of the general economic situation, resulting in hardships that are suffered by the rank and file Bashkir population (ibid.).

Country Reports 1999 reported on a protest staged by Tatars outside the Bashkortostan legislature over a draft version of a proposed language law (Feb. 2000). The proposed language law was to name Bashkiri and Russian as the only two official languages of Bashkortostan (ibid.; Nezavisimaya Gazeta 2 Feb. 1999). Please consult RUS33941.E of 10 March 2000 for information on the treatment of ethnic Tatars in Russia, including in Bashkortostan.

In February 1998, the Current Digest of the Post-Soviet Press reported that some Tatars were registering as Bashkirs "simply for more rapid career advancement." However, this report also noted that

the situation for non-indigenous peoples in incomparably better in Bashkiria than in... Abkhazia or the Baltic republics. Quite often Russians and Tatars... even hold more prestigious positions than members of the indigenous nationality in all spheres of activity except the system of state administration. For example, 48% of industrial enterprise executives are Russians. Moreover, the average standard of living is higher for Russians and Tatars than for Bashkirs (ibid.).

The Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology reported that economic migrants arriving from Povolrzaya, Urals and Siberia and "forced" migrants arriving from Central Asia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine have resulted in a positive net migration into Bashkortostan "from the beginning of the 1990s," most of the new migrants are not Baskir (1998). This situation

provokes dissatisfaction among leaders of the local national movements. They have put forward the idea of the necessity of a special law stimulating an influx of ethnic Bashkirs into the republic. On the whole, the migrant pressure of the 1990s are not so significant that they could be considered as an independent factor in social conflicts. However, in conditions of increased economic difficulties the arrival of people not possessing Bashkir nationality in their passports, provokes obvious dissatisfaction among authorities and national Bashkir activists. Already there have been scenes of daily conflicts between the local population and the new arrivals (ibid.).

No further reports of conflicts could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please see the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Centre for Russian Studies. 19 March 1998. "Duma, Bashkortostan Fight Over Language." http://www.nupi.no/cgi-win/Russland/krono.exe/1924 [Accessed 4 Aug. 2000]

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1999. February 2000. United States Department of State. http://www.state.gov/www/global/human_rights [Accessed 4 Aug. 2000]

Current Digest of the Post-Soviet Press. 4 February 1998. Igor Rotar. "Bashkiria: Ufa's Nationalities Policy Suits the Kremlin - Noneponymous Peoples are Thinly Represented in Structures of Power." (NEXIS)

Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Russian Academy of Sciences. 1998. Bashkiria, Russian Federation: A Model of Ethnological Monitoring: Summary. http://eawarn.tower.ras.ru/most/publ.htm [Accessed 4 Aug. 2000]

Manchester Guardian Weekly. 24 May 2000. "Putin Redraws Map of Russia." (NEXIS)

Nationalities Papers. 1998. Ildus G. Ilishev. "Russian Federalism: Political, Legal and Ethnolingual Aspects-A View from the Republic of Bashkortostan." Vol. 26, No. 4.

Nezavisimaya Gazeta [Moscow, in Russian]. 2 Feb. 1999. "Newspaper Notes Mounting Tension in Bashkir-Tatar Relations." (BBC Summary 8 February 1999/NEXIS)

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). 26 August 1997. "Bashkortostan: A Case Study on Building National Identity." http://www.rferl.org/nca/features/1997/08/F.RU.970826152920.html [Accessed 4 Aug. 2000]

Human Rights Watch

IRB Databases

Internet Sites including:

East West Institute

European Centre for Minority Issues

Gazeta.ru

MEMORIAL, English Internet site

Minorities at Risk Project

The Moscow Times

The Nationalism Project

Russian Regional Studies Network

The St. Petersburg Times