Tatarstans Bold Stand: Unpacking the Recent Showdown with Moscow

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Understanding Tatarstan’s Notable Protest

Last week, during their final parliamentary session before the summer recess, members of the State Council of Tatarstan—a single-chamber legislative assembly in Russia’s Volga-Ural republic—conducted an uncommon public protest against Moscow. They criticized proposed changes to federal regulations regarding Indigenous language education.

The reform led by the Ministry of Education aims to decrease the number of hours allocated for Indigenous language and literature instruction in first-grade classes to just one hour per week. Additionally, it seeks to change the title of “Native language” to “Language of an ethnic group of the Russian Federation.”

While this might appear to be a minor detail, activists and officials in Tatarstan argue that this measure could contribute to the marginalization of non-Russian ethnic identities by implying that only Russian can be regarded as a native language. They also contend that reducing instructional hours further endangers the vitality of numerous Indigenous languages.

“The preservation of native languages is a pressing matter for all of us today — for the Yakuts, the Tatars, the Bashkirs, and for everyone,” stated Deputy Ilshat Aminev during last week’s session. “We are witnessing alarming trends among certain federal authorities: pushing through such significant laws without consulting with the regions… poses a serious risk.”

The news of the passionate parliamentary session, along with Aminev’s address, quickly garnered attention, becoming a focal point of discussion throughout Tatarstan over the weekend.

On Monday, Tatarstan’s Education Minister, Ilsur Khadiullin, announced that federal authorities had decided against renaming the “Native language” classes in the state curriculum and that Tatarstan is “currently addressing” the issue of reducing time allocated for Indigenous language study.

Observers promptly interpreted Khadiullin’s statements as a triumph for the republic over federal powers and praised the regional deputies for their apparent courage.

We spoke with Tatar political analyst and journalist Ruslan Aysin to gain insight into the dynamics between Moscow and Tatarstan, exploring whether any nuanced signals went unnoticed by the public.

**The Moscow Times**: What prompted Tatar authorities to organize a public protest against Moscow? Was it due to sincere concerns about the future of the Tatar language, apprehension about public opinion, or something else?

**Ruslan Aysin**: It may seem that this issue carries significant weight, but I believe it doesn’t, as the Indigenous education system has already been dismantled, and what we see now are its remnants. The government of Tatarstan raised a fuss to preserve these remnants.

This action was as much about maintaining a positive public perception as it was an important step to enhance [Tatarstan’s leader] Rustam Minnikhanov’s standing among the Tatar population ahead of the upcoming elections [in September].

Although Minnikhanov would likely still win reelection with around 80% of the votes if the situation remained unchanged, he would still face public discontent.

**MT**: The Education Ministry’s decree that was debated in Tatarstan’s parliament was released online on the same day as the heated session, but without the contentious phrase “Language of an ethnic group of the Russian Federation.” Do you see this as a win for Tatarstan? What motivated Moscow to take this action?

**RA**: I believe this is indicative of a compromise [between Tatarstan and the Kremlin]. Ultimately, it’s just a decree, not a permanent law, and can be easily revoked or reinstated by Moscow.

Tatar elites needed to demonstrate to the public that they were still willing to confront Moscow, leading to a Moscow-approved compromise. While this victory may be marginal and insignificant in practical terms, it has a significant positive impact on public relations.

**MT**: Do you think Tatarstan will be able to prevent the reduction of Indigenous language classes in the republic?

**RA**: I anticipate that Tatarstan will reach some form of compromise with Moscow regarding Indigenous language instruction in the republic. However, the majority of Tatars living in Russia reside outside of Tatarstan, and the republic won’t be able to support them.