Agreement ‘On Delimitation of Jurisdictional Subjects and Mutual Delegation of Powers between the State Bodies of the Russian Federation and the State Bodies of the Republic of Tatarstan’. Moscow, February 15, 1994. Copy.
In 1994, Russia and Tatarstan signed the first agreement which consolidated the special status of the republic within the country. The document was signed by Russian President Boris Eltsin and Chairman of the Government Viktor Chernomyrdin, as well as President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev and Prime Minister of the republic Mukhammat Sabirov.
Before signing the agreement, Russia and Tatarstan had long negotiations since 1991. The document entitled the republic to have its own Constitution and legislation, levy republican taxes, introduce republican citizenship, establish and maintain relations with constituent entities of the Russian Federation and foreign states, create the National Bank and carry out foreign economic activity independently. The natural resources of the republic were declared ‘the exclusive heritage and property of the people of Tatarstan’
President Eltsin said that ‘agreements of this kind are the only constitutional and civilizational form of elimination of contradictions between the Constitution of the Russian Federation and the constitutions of the republics’. Shaimiev announced that ‘the agreement approves a new model of relations based on the principles of law and justice’. The term of the agreement was not limited, but the new Federal Law of 2003 obliged the constituent entities of Russia to update the agreements within two years.
The State Council of Tatarstan drafted the second agreement ‘On Delimitation of Jurisdictional Subjects and Powers between the State Authorities of the Russian Federation and the State Authorities of the Republic of Tatarstan’ in October 2005, and on June 26, 2007 it was signed by the presidents of Russia and Tatarstan – Vladimir Putin and Mintimer Shaimiev.
The new document deprived the republic of its previous financial privileges, including a reduced percentage of tax payments to the centre. Natural resources have ceased to be the heritage and property of the people of Tatarstan. The agreement established two state languages – Russian and Tatar, and also established a requirement for the president of the republic to know both languages. The region retained the right to issue passports with an insert in the Tatar language and with an image of the republic’s coat of arms. The second agreement expired in 2017.
In 1994, Russia and Tatarstan signed the first agreement which consolidated the special status of the republic within the country. The document was signed by Russian President Boris Eltsin and Chairman of the Government Viktor Chernomyrdin, as well as President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev and Prime Minister of the republic Mukhammat Sabirov.
Before signing the agreement, Russia and Tatarstan had long negotiations since 1991. The document entitled the republic to have its own Constitution and legislation, levy republican taxes, introduce republican citizenship, establish and maintain relations with constituent entities of the Russian Federation and foreign states, create the National Bank and carry out foreign economic activity independently. The natural resources of the republic were declared ‘the exclusive heritage and property of the people of Tatarstan’
President Eltsin said that ‘agreements of this kind are the only constitutional and civilizational form of elimination of contradictions between the Constitution of the Russian Federation and the constitutions of the republics’. Shaimiev announced that ‘the agreement approves a new model of relations based on the principles of law and justice’. The term of the agreement was not limited, but the new Federal Law of 2003 obliged the constituent entities of Russia to update the agreements within two years.
The State Council of Tatarstan drafted the second agreement ‘On Delimitation of Jurisdictional Subjects and Powers between the State Authorities of the Russian Federation and the State Authorities of the Republic of Tatarstan’ in October 2005, and on June 26, 2007 it was signed by the presidents of Russia and Tatarstan – Vladimir Putin and Mintimer Shaimiev.
The new document deprived the republic of its previous financial privileges, including a reduced percentage of tax payments to the centre. Natural resources have ceased to be the heritage and property of the people of Tatarstan. The agreement established two state languages – Russian and Tatar, and also established a requirement for the president of the republic to know both languages. The region retained the right to issue passports with an insert in the Tatar language and with an image of the republic’s coat of arms. The second agreement expired in 2017.
