TATARS AND BASHKIRS JOIN FORCES.

The executive committees of the Worldwide Congress of Tatars and the Worldwide Congress of Bashkirs are joining forces to campaign against proposals to abolish Russia’s national republics such as Tatarstan and Bashkortostan. Once supported only by nationalist politicians, including Vladimir Zhirinovsky, the administrative reform has recently won the favor of Moscow’s powerful mayor, Yuri Luzhkov. The Tatar and Bashkir organizations also expressed concern over the proposed union of Russia and Belarus, describing it as an "attempt to revive the Russian empire." (Izvestia, April 10)

Maskhadov Postpones Pilgrimage.