15 July 1999
DAILY REVIEW FROM TATARSTAN
Tatarstan's State Council Protest Heard By OSCE
A session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly held in St. Petersburg from 6 to 10 July discussed the recent vote by Tatarstan's State Council against the presence of Russian peacekeepers in Kosova, Tatarinform reported. The State Council resolution stated that it was wasteful to use the already meager financial resources of Russia to send peacekeeping troops to Yugoslavia. It went on to say that considering the situation in the Caucasus, it would be politically immoral and hypocritical to come out looking like a peacemaker while at the same time neglecting the dire situation in Russia. Daniya Karimova, a State Duma deputy from Tatarstan, read the statement at the OSCE session.
Court Rules For Muslim Religious Board And Tatar Public Center
The Supreme Court of the Republic of Tatarstan on 14 July reversed a decision made by the Vakhitov district court in Kazan against the Muslim Religious Board (MRB) and the Tatar Public Center (TPC). The MRB and TPC were found guilty by the Vakhitov court of damaging the reputation of State Council deputy Fanavil Shaimardanov after they suggested he was insane. On 3 June, the district court fined the defendants 15,000 rubles each in absentia, stating that both organizations had been informed of the time and place of the court session. But the Supreme Court agreed with the claims of MRB chairman Gusman khazrat Iskhakov and TPC chairman Zaki Zaynullin, who said that they were falsely accused. The case returns for a retrial in the Vakhitov court.
Compiled by Iskender Nurmi