9 September 2005
DAILY REVIEW FROM TATARSTAN
Tatneft Halts Iranian Project
Tatneft Deputy General Director Reis Khisamov has said that Tatneft has halted its project in Iran, "Vedomosti" reported on 9 September. Khisamov said operation of the joint Tatar-Iranian venture between Tatneft and the Iranian Mostazafan fund was frozen because of the unstable political situation in Iran.
Russian Foreign Minister Thanks Tatarstan For CIS Summit
Sergei Lavrov has sent a letter to Tatar President Mintimer Shaimiev thanking him for organizing the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit from 26-27 August in Kazan, the presidential press service reported on 8 September. Lavrov said "kindness and hospitality, which surrounded all participants of the CIS summit, played a big role in its success." The minister added that "the [Kazan] jubilee celebrations let the entire world get a glimpse of the ...unique...experience of the friendly living...between the representatives of different nationalities and faiths." Lavrov said the diplomatic service will "promote the development of the fruitful international and foreign economic relations of Tatarstan."
'Days Of Lithuania' In Kazan
Lithuanian Ambassador to Russia Rimantas Shidlauskas told a news conference on 8 September in Kazan that Tatarstan is "an attractive region" for Lithuania and an "impulse should be given to the development of Tatar and Lithuanian businessmen," RFE/RL's Kazan bureau reported the same day. Shidlauskas heads a delegation visiting the Tatar capital within the framework of "Days of Lithuania in Tatarstan." Shidlauskas said the project includes official meetings with Tatarstan's leaders, negotiations of his country's 12 business companies representing the transport, logistics, and trade sectors with their Tatar colleagues, and cultural events. Specifically, the days include a literary and art party devoted to Lithuanian composer Mikaloyus Churlenis, the art exhibit "A Window to Lithuania," and a Lithuanian film retrospective.
Resident To Get 80,000 Rubles' Compensation
The Kazan Yanga-Savin Raion Court on 6 September issued a verdict charging Tatarstan's Federal Treasury Board of the Russian Finance Ministry to pay Kazan resident Denis Petrov 80,000 rubles ($2,830) in compensation for "moral harm" caused by former Interior Ministry employee Major Ilyas Borhanov, "Kommersant-Volga-Urals" reported on 7 September.
On 31 January, Borhanov was sentenced to three years of conditional imprisonment for torturing Petrov into pleading guilty to the theft of a car tape player. Petrov, 18, was seeking 200,000 rubles in compensation. His lawyer, Marina Valetova, however, said she is completely satisfied by the verdict since 80,000 rubles is a "a good sum."
Compiled by Gulnara Khasanova