10 July 2001
DAILY REVIEW FROM TATARSTAN
Tatarstan's Heating Season Perspectives Positive
Prime Minister Rustam Minnikhanov held a government meeting on 9 July to discuss Tatarstan's readiness for the winter season of 2001-2002. He praised Tatenergo for its timely purchases of natural gas supplies from Gazprom despite the failure of some consumers to pay their bills. He also called for companies to reduce their use of power and oil.
More Firms Urged to Go Public
First Deputy Prime Minister Ravil Muratov told the government commission on stock market development on 9 July that only eight industrial concerns in Tatarstan have sold stocks on Russian markets but that more could do so.
Oil Extraction Increases
Tatarstan's oil industry extracted 13.5 million tons of oil in the first half of 2001, Tatarinform agency reported on 9 July. According to the agency, this figure is three percent higher than the planned amount.
Wage Debts Increase in Kazan
Wage debts to employees increased during 2001 in Kazan by 46 percent over a year ago because of the slumping economy there.
City Officials Promoted
Kazan deputy mayor Lenar Valeev and chairman of the city committee on youth and sport affairs Leonid Savelyev were appointed republican deputy minister of construction and deputy minister on youth affairs respectively on 9 July.
Kazan Lacks Militia Officers...
Angered by an increase in crime, Kazan Mayor Kamil Iskhakov suggested on 9 July that local companies' employees should patrol the streets in their free time in order to compensate for the lack of militia force. The lack is reportedly caused by the low wages of militia officers at 1500-1700 rubles (about $55) a month.
...While One is Imprisoned for Excessive Use of Force
The Supreme Court of Tatarstan a Sovetsky district militia officer to six years in prison for shooting to death an unarmed suspect at a crime scene.
Unique Treasure Found in Tatarstan National Archive
Scholars at Kazan State University and the Russian Academy of Sciences are studying an eighth century work by Muslim theologian Sibawaikhi that has been found in Kazan's National Archive, Tatnews reported on 9 July. The scholars are unsure as to how the book landed there.
Compiled by Iskender Nurmi
DAILY REVIEW FROM BASHKORTOSTAN
Tatar Press Keeps Its Readers
The Tatar print media have kept relatively high subscription figures compared to Russian and Bashkir newspapers there, RFE/RL's Ufa correspondent reported on 9 July. The main Tatar-language paper in Bashkortostan has 44,000 subscribers for the second half of 2001, only two thousand less than in the first half. Moreover, 37,000 people subscribed to the Tatar youth newspaper Omet and 20,000 subscribed to the Tulpar magazine.
Tatar School Warned for Not Having Russian and Bashkir Signs
Belebey Tatar gymnasium director complained to RFE/RL's Ufa correspondent on 9 July that the local administration and prosecutors had ordered him to replace the Tatar-written Welcome sign with ones in Russian and Bashkir.
Bashkortostan's Industrial Output Increases
Bashkortostan�s industry produced 74 billion rubles ($2,5 billion) worth of goods in the first half of 2001, AROMI reported on 9 July.
Blast Victims Get Free Apartments
On 7 July President Murtaza Rakhimov handed new apartment ownership certificates to the 12 families left homeless by the gas blast in an apartment block in Karamaskali village in February 2001.
Turkish Company Helps Build a Mosque in Ufa
The Turkish Ihlas holding company donated funds for the construction of a new mosque in Ufa, Bashkortostan State Radio Reported on 9 July.
Compiled by Iskender Nurmi