Bashkir President Urged To Preserve Sovereignty

UFA, Russia -- The Youth Union of Bashkortostan is urging President Murtaza Rakhimov and legislators in the republic to preserve its sovereignty, RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir Service reports.

In an open letter, union activists stated that the republic's sovereignty has been earned and fought for by the entire population of Bashkortostan.

They argued that the liquidation of sovereignty in the Russian Federation's ethnic republics violates the principles of federalism.

They also warned the republic's leadership that they might appeal to Bashkortostan's Constitutional Court to protect the republic's sovereignty.

On June 9, the Russian Constitutional Court issued an order directing 11 of federation subjects to eliminate all references in their constitutions to "sovereignty."

Rakhimov publicly said then that the references to Bashkortostan's sovereignty might be changed.