Milli Mejlis - Tatarstan's Fight for Independence

http://www.azatliq.org/content/Article/1372971.html
TATAR WORLD
Fauziya Bayramova: “If I am imprisoned, I will declare a hunger strike!”
21 January 2009-01-25
Irek Bikkinin
As already reported by Azatlyk, at the beginning of January Russian security service agents for several hours searched the apartment of Fauziya Bayramova, Chairwoman of Milly Mejlis (National Counсil) in the Chally City (Republic of Tatarstan). The search warrant was hastily issued by the court on 02 January 2009 even without waiting for the end of the holiday season. Similar searches took place at the apartments of several other members of Milli Mejlis and at the offices of other three Tatar organizations.
Fauziya Bayramova these days visited Mordovia and Irek Bikkinin, an Azatlyk journalist met with her and asked her about the reasons for persecution of Milli Mejlis leadership.
Bayramova: Declarations, announcements and appeals proclaiming that the Tatar people must be independent have been made since Perestroika (Restructuring). The Supreme Soviet (Counсil) proclaimed the same and adopted a declaration. Tatar Public Centre, Milli Mejlis, Ittifaq parties always adopted such memoranda and announcements.
Abroad, not much attention was given to our announcements. Anyway, we appealed several times asking “to recognize our independence and the fact that without its own independent state the Tatar people was moving towards its end”, but for some reason nobody paid any attention to us.
Not only that, in the 90-ies both in the European countries and in America we were constantly being persuaded: “do not to obstruct building of democracy in Russia, there will be democracy in Russia, together you will be a democratic country”. However, 20 years have gone by and both foreigners and nations inside Russia have understood very well that Russia has failed to remain even in the present condition and is heading towards fascism.
Here, murder of representatives of other nations, extermination of their languages, religions, traditions and history are taking place on the state level. Not even on the level of separate individuals. Less numerous peoples have resigned to this, some of them are not saying anything and are looking at us.
However, we, the Tatar people, with its dozens of independent states in its history, with its dozens of heroes, with its amazing to the entire world epic poems, literary masterpieces, with its great culture and life in Islam, of course, can not agree with this. We can not agree with this, i.e. disappearing. That’s why, having recalled the Declaration, we made an appeal, foreign countries paid attention to us, it is necessary to speak the truth.

This appeal of ours, i.e. our appeal to recognize Tatarstan’s independence, appeared on many Internet sites, was published in a lot of newspapers, was part of many TV programs in the US, Turkey, Ukraine, Georgia. Even the UN came out to confirm this.
Initially, Russia didn’t pay attention to this: oh well, it’s that group, they will talk and talk about this and then will stop. Russia saw that the situation had become very serious, but it is them who showed us the example now by recognizing South Ossetia and Abkhazia. We only now show them their [???], here you’ve shown the way to us. I think that when Russia understood that the situation had become very serious, it decided to apply measures to us.
I think that opening this criminal case, it is not only against Fauziya Bayramova and her adherents, they opened the criminal case against the entire Tatarstan Repubic, which had proclaimed independence, against the Tatar people, who want to be independent, because we said our word on behalf of the Tatar people. Milli Mejlis said it, scholars said it, writers said it, previous patriots said.
And they relied on the Declaration of Independence. We relied on the results of the referendum. This criminal case was opened against the entire Tatar people. I think that is should be looked upon like this. I can’t say now what the end will be, which way will be chosen by Tatarstan’s leadership, whether Tatarstan’s intellectuals will rise, whether the Tatar people will understand that the ongoing struggle is for whether it will live or disappear. Only God knows this. But anyway we need to move, to explain to the people.
Fauziya, how did the search of your apartment, taking away of your things take place? Did you expect this happening or not?
Bayramova: Of course it was rather unexpected to me. I was sitting and working on my computer. In a very rude fashion, shouting and screaming, beginning with a lie “we have come to check your gas, this and that”, they told me “Open!” And I never open, especially to strangers.
After that, they began knocking on the door, invited the Ministry for Extreme Situations specialists, threatened that “if you don’t open, we shall break in using a saw”. After suffering like this for half-an-hour, my husband arrived from the external side of the door, and after he said: “Open, anyway, they will break in, they have a court decision on their hands!” – I, of course, opened the door. It was very difficult for me, both from the physical and moral sides. All my work stopped, all my daily routine got disrupted.
Especially, after they took away my computer. Nowadays, nobody writes by hand, all the archive materials are in the computer. All my novels, all my personal letters, all my scholarly works, my Masters thesis, my PhD thesis, which I had just begun to write, hundreds of articles, - and they were all were gone. Now some man’s hand is touching them, some man’s eye is seeing them. I didn’t want it, not because there is something clandestine there, but because, for example, I didn’t want anybody to read my personal letters.
Many things were taken away from my comrades, from my supporters, 5 bags full of their things were taken from each of them, while from me, for example, only 2 bags full of my things were taken away. Now we counts archives by the bag, laugh if you want to laugh, cry if you want to cry, as the saying goes. So there are 5 of us here. They are Bayramova’s 5 supporters, I counted 5 people together with my husband.
Many national movement organizations, 3 national movements have been searched, dozens of computers have been taken away from them as well. They opened a case against us, - “for distributing materials inciting conflict among peoples via the Internet”, and now after the interrogations I understood this from supporters and prosecutor’s office people calling us people wanting to destroy constitutional order.
We by any means don’t want to destroy Russia’s constitutional order, we want to destroy our own Tatar statehood. Here they said that they recognized Abkhazia without destroying Georgia’s state wholeness. And we want to restore Tatarstan state’s independence without destroying Russian state’s wholeness.
Mrs. Fauziya, how did you feel during those searches? After them, how did you manage to pull your strength together, what were you doing?
Bayramova: When they came, though I wasn’t feeling well, I persuaded myself to calm down, did two cycles of prayer and asked Allah for help, I behaved very calmly with them, even I got surprised. I showed my photos, books, archives to them, even signed and gave books to them.
My shock began after they had been gone. After they had been gone, I began thinking, - wait, what is it that happened here? I am a well-known person to the nation, a writer, an author of 31 books, a woman that has reached her 60th Birthday, I pray, have an MA in History, am a political figure, a former deputy. The most difficult thing is not that they stormed in, because they are a security service, FSB, they have always stormed in, taken away and imprisoned.
The hardest was to recognize this: Tatarstan’s leaders, who are Tatars just like us, blessed this, understanding this was the hardest. Wait, I said, let me go myself to Kazan. I wrote a letter to Shaymiev on 3 pages and, on the 7th of January, I went to the Kremlin to look for Shaymiev.
Of course, I could not find Shaymiev there. I asked to pass on this letter to Shaymiev through the President’s apparatus. The letter was passed on to him. Then we wrote another letter, and that letter was also handed over into Shaymiev’s hands by the State Council deputies. Having done so, I calmed down a little bit and thought: wait, let me go to the regions, meet with our Tatar patriots, religious figures and calm down a little bit.
I went to Sary Tau. But before I got there, news about me reached there, it scared the people living there, as if I went there to divide land, as if I went there to stage a revolution. Some people received me very nicely, some people went into hiding from Sary Tau. After staying here for 3 days I understood, felt that I was putting people in a difficult condition, spoke about this only with my supporters and, having returned to Kazan, organized a press-conference.
I conducted press-conferences in the editorial departments of two newspapers – “Vatanym Tatarstan” and “Tatarstan yashlere”. It turned out that even journalists don’t understand many things, they were surprised and shocked. If I am imprisoned, I said, in the first days I will announce a hunger-strike, please know that. In case I die, I said, this will be their job, I would never commit suicide, because I am a true Muslim.
At “Vatanym Tatarstan” I was asked the following question: “Mrs. Fauziya, you know these people’s methods, they can put you to jail just like in 1937, don’t you have an intention to leave for some other country?” I said that if I go to Turkey today, they will give me citizenship right today. I have no doubt about this, because I am connected to people at the highest levels there. However, I won’t go, because my comrades are here, according to this case I am the Chairwoman of Milli Mejlis, these people follow me, of course I won’t abandon and leave them. Whether they will imprison me or will leave me free, this is in the hands of Allah I believe. Until that I can’t make long-term planning. After that I went to see the Tatar congress. However, I didn’t find too much of a defense at the high level of the Tatar Congress. And I didn’t ask them about defense. Nevertheless, they didn’t even try to understand my situation.
After that, I did my prayers in the Kazan Mosques, in Kol Sharif, in the Nurullah Mosque, decided to go to Mordovia, because I know that my fellow Tatars here are strong in their faith, brave Tatars, who are not afraid, who don’t shake with fear because one woman said “independence”. I will calm down a little bit and my faith will become stronger.
And I did the right thing by coming here, I get inspired by religious books, historical books, can speak here without fear. But this time around I don’t want to go to big meetings and to put people in difficult situations, but I can meet with people with whom I want to meet.
And now ahead of me is the planned continuation of my trip to the Samara region, because my life doesn’t consist only of sorrow, I also have joys. My book called “The Land of Turan” has just been published. In this “The Land of Turan” book there is some absolutely new information regarding the Samara region in the form of an historical essay called “Tzar’s hill and the Tatar history”. I was intending to show this article as part of the presentation of my book to the Samara Tatars, to organize a meeting. Before this situation. I can’t disrupt my plans, a criminal case has been opened.
And after that, my return to Chally and appearance in court are awaiting me…

(I didn't ask permission to post this. I think it's just too intriguing not to.)
Please show this article to people and enlighten them.

A Sad and Moving Photograph

A Tatar family fleeing from hunger in the Volga area, probably in the 1920's. The inscription in German says: "Russia: Hunger: A family of hunger refugees from the Tatar Republic (Volga).

I should add my photo of myself. "A Tatar American visits Tatarstan in 1989 and is compelled to bring a suitcase of food so he doesn't have to spend half a day in line for horrible food." The Tatars from Finland told me to bring my own snacks. "You will have a very difficult time finding something to eat in Kazan", they told me. I wasn't starving like the poor folks above, but it was a lesson.

Tatar Woman 1910

If you look at this picture really quickly and then look away really quickly, she resembles our singing teacher, except pregnant.

Tatar Dancer - Akimova

I awoke to this in my mailbox. The artist is originally from Moscow. She lives and paints in the States now. Her name is Akimova. There's something appealing about her work. I'd call it charming. She sells her paintings online, e-bay, I think.

The Rank Of Tatar

Ottoman Turkish Military Units

Officers Ranks

Four Ranks of Government Diplomats officials:

1/ Kavas Bashi Aga
2/ Tatar
3/ Vezir Tatar Agash
4/ Ceremony master of Vezirs, Bash Chaushu

Here is a usage of "Tatar" that I've never seen before, and a new hat.

Kuk Kugerchen

Kuk Kugerchen - Tatar Folk Song
Filmed January 29 2009 Golden Gate Park
San Francisco , California
iLhan Sadri on Talyan Garmun

Etkem Enkemnen Tele

TUĞAN TEL

İy tuğan tel, iy matur tel, ätkäm-änkämneñ tele!
Dönyada küp närsä beldem sin tuğan tel arqılı.
İñ äläk bu tel belän änkäm bişektä köylägän,
Annarı tönnär buyı äbkäm xikäyät söylägän.
İy tuğan tel! Härwaqıtta yärdämen birlän sineñ,
Keçkenädän añlaşılğan şatlığım, qayğım minem.
İy tuğan tel! Sindä bulğan iñ äläk qılğan doğam:
Yarlıqağıl, dip, üzem häm ätkäm-änkämne, Xodam.

********

The tunnels next to the DeYoung Museum have incredible acoustics. The walls are like the Parthenon. The cool, foggy breezes flow through these tunnels. These fresh breezes come off the Pacific Ocean, a stone's throw away. The elegance of the tunnels and the echo of the Tatar Folk Music can make the experience ethereal. Everybody smiles at you that passes.

Life isn't all that bad.

Here's my take on "Iy Tugan Tel".

Garmunchi 2-Part Video from TNV

TNV Garmunchi 1

TNV - Garmunchi 2

The word "Garmunchi" means "Garmun Player".

There are several types of accordions. The "Concertina" is small and typically has six sides. There are buttons on both sides. They can be English, German, or other. The Argentine version is called a "Bandoneon" and is masterfully played and composed by Astor Piazzola.

The "Garmun" is slightly larger, boxy and diatonic, meaning different notes are played if you press together the bellows or pull them apart. The "Cajun Accordion" from the Swamplands of Louisiana seems to be the same thing as "Garmun".

The next larger size is called a "Talyan Garmun" which I believe means "Italian". These are the same size as "Ranchero Accordions" which are used in Northern Mexico and Texas/Southwest area. There are buttons on the left hand, piano keys on the right, minus the black keys.

The Standard Concert Accordion has 120 buttons on the left hand and a standard piano keyboard on the right, although about 3/4 size keys. The rows of buttons are grouped as: Counter-Bass, Major Bass, Major Chord, Minor Chord, Seventh Chord, Augmented Chord, Diminished Chord.

The Bayan is large, like a Standard Concert Accordion, but has rows of buttons on both sides.

Guzel Akhmetova - Sau Bul Ak Kaennar

Guzel Akhmetova - Sau Bul Ak Kaennar

ESSE TöRKEME - Singa Kirek Tugel

"ESSE" TöRKEME - Singa Kirek Tugel

Melike - Sin Bulganda

Melike - Sin Bulganda

The song is jumpin and she's got a full-on Las Vegas Production to go along with it, not to mention the Rock Star Hairdo.

Bashklip Bashkurt Rap

The only info I have on this one is "Bashklip Bashkurt Rap". I wish I knew more and I'm hoping that there is more where this came from. They're invited.

Zohre Sehebiyeva - Saubullashu

Zohre Sehebiyeva - Saubullashu - from YouTube and TNV

This is great.

I remember asking our Shemsiye Apa what "Sukirlar" meant and she said, "I think I know what song you're referring to..." I used to go to her with lists of words that I didn't know the meaning to. Salih Absi and Shemsiye Apa taught me alot.

Aidar Faizrahmanov - Awlagi - Min Sine Shundi Sagindim

Aidar Faizrahmanov - Awlagi

Aidar Faizrahmanov - Min Sine Shundi Sagindim

I want to play these videos for everyone and say, "See! Look at how beautiful the Tatar Language is!"

Feride Alsu - Ez Oyem

Feride Alsu - Ez Oyem

Aigol Barieva

Time for a hot tea and a song

Berge utirip ber cir tinglik!

Tatar Way-Back Machine

Kazan - un quartier de la ville

Kazan Kremlin Soyembike Tower

I don't have a date on this

Don't Show This To Your Christian Friends

I think this lovely Mosque is in Bashkortstan. If you look carefully, you can see that the building is constructed in the shape of a cross, and is called the "First Cathedral Mosque". I'm curious as to which direction the congregation faces? Is there a prescribed positioning for Christian Cathedrals? Which direction is "Kibla Taraf".

Recently, a British acquaintance expressed to me concern over Turkey's application and potential future of being admitted to the EU. I couldn't believe his open fear and hostility towards Islam and Turkey. I told him, "Dude, that's me." He expresses that there are already too many Pakistani Immigrants in the UK. He feels invaded. Pakistanis are "them".

1885 Mordovian Woman

Of my two grandmothers, One was born in Penza. I'm not sure if it was Penza city, or Penza area, but it is within Mordovia. Mordovia is just to the West of Kazan and I'm told many Mishar Tatars are from this area. I'm also told that many Tatars that reside in Finland are from Mordovia as well.

My Yurt or Yours?

This is the interior and exterior of a "Tatar Yurt" in Poland.

From Bashkir TV, this has to be the finest Yurt in the land. I'm told that this is probably a wedding yurt. Ebe says, "You have to churn the butter outside the front door!"

The closest thing to a yurt that I've ever owned. There are actually many similarities.

And the inflatable Dragon! Before I painted this bus, there were murals on the exterior of outer space; comets, stars, planets. I spent years in the Redwoods, camping and swimming.

Bashkir Wardrobe

In the past, I've expressed envy over the clothing that the Bashkir People wear. I want a fur hat and a big robe too! These images are grouped to examine the details of their gear.

Oakland Accordion Time

I just found this on a friend's blog. I brought my accordion with me to her garden party. They didn't know that it was Kuk Kugerchen that were tapping their toes to, but they liked it. The hosts were a lovely couple, one of which was a bandmate years ago.

TatarlarSamara - Tatars of Samara

http://tatarlarsamara.ru/index.php

This site wins for Prettiest, even if I didn't read Tatar in Cyrillic.

I give them 10 Peremech and a Gold Star.

Yeshlek-Gazeta - Bashkort Youth Page

http://www.yeshlek-gazeta.ru/index.php

Bashkort Language youth magazine. There appears to be a good amount of content here.

and I thought that was a picture of a man shooting a horse

Булгар! - Bulgar!

Ruins of baths of the Khans

http://www.bulgarile.narod.ru/

"БУЛГАРСКИЙ ИНФОРМАЦИОННЫЙ САЙТ"

"Bulgar Information Site"

(in Russian)

СИТ ИЛ БАШҠОРТТАРЫ

http://www.misrbash.moy.su/

This site concerns Bashkort People.

and no, it's not just a shop

Tatar Yazuchylary - Tatar Writers

http://adiplar.narod.ru/

This page contains images and bio's in Tatarcha about Tatar Authors.
The "рефератлар" section has more interesting content.

Стәрлетамаk - Тарих - Starletamaq - History

http://starletamaq.narod.ru/tt-kir/tarix.html

The above link is to the History Page of Starletamaq. The images are worth a visit.

I especially like the above pic.

all the Fiestaware is out, but certainly no Fiesta!

Bike Longer - Live longer

I went to a Bicyclist Demonstration last week to save a bike lane. The City of San Francisco wants to remove it because cars continue to injure bicyclists here. We see this as a punishment of the wrong party. I'm in Orange. I turned to the gentleman next to me and asked, "World Trade Federation?" His reply was, "I was told that I have a dirty mouth! "

Condom Spot - In Telugu

This video is in Telugu, which is spoken at the Southern Tip of India. I have a brilliant friend in San Francisco that is from this area. This video has nothing to do with Tatars or Tatar culture, but this is such a great way of teaching such an important lesson. Stay safe. Protect yourself.

and I Have to learn how to dance like that with my arms!

Folk Tatar Clothes - in English

http://luiza-m.narod.ru/smi/eng/tatar-slothes.htm

Check out this page. and it's in English.

It's a short blurb about what we wear and why.

La Casa Bashkir - or Martha Stewart Bashkir Home

I'm so pleased to find weird stuff online relating to life in the Old Country. I simple E-Bay search under "Bashkir" brought up these three items, among many more. I can't vouch for the integrity of the sellers. I'd check the "Buyer's Ratings" really carefully.

Does anyone know the story about the Woodcutter and the Devil?

Bashkir Honey Tin

"Two Men Wrestling" platter

Woodcutter and Devil nutcracker

UFA FAQ without the Q

Ufa - capital of Bashkortostan Republic In the 18th century Ufa evolved into an administrative, trading, manufacturing and cultural center of Russia. Ufa Municipal Public Bank was established on December 15, 1876. On June 14, 1922, the Decree of the All -Union Central Executive Committee abolished Ufimskaya Guberniya (Ufa Province), and Ufa became the capital of the Bashkir Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. The discovery of oil in Bashkiriya made Ufa one of the centers of the USSR oil extracting and oil refining industries. The city stretches 50 kilometers from the southwest to the northeast and occupies over 710 square kilometers. Ufa's population exceeds 1 million people representing over a hundred nationalities and ethnic groups. The bulk of the population is composed of Bashkirs, Russians, Tatars, Chuvash, and Maris. Ufa believers profess mostly Islam and Christianity. The city numbers over 1,000 streets totaling about 1,000 kilometers, 22 bridges and overpasses, and 6 river ferries. Ufa is the largest river port in the Urals. Vessels sailing down the Belaya, the Kama and the Volga deliver cargoes to the remotest places of the country. Branch-lines of the Kuibyshevskaya Railway connect Ufa with all major Russian cities. Ufa Airport has International and a Domestic Terminals with a total capacity of 800 passengers an hour. It is in Ufa where the residence of the President of the Republic of Bashkortostan is located, and the republican executive bodies are concentrated. Over 40% of Bashkortostan's total manufacturing potential is concentrated in Ufa. The principal industries are fuel production, chemical and petrochemical branches, engineering and metal machining. One hundred and eighty-six manufacturing companies are located in the city. The largest of these are three oil refineries, Ufaorgsintez, Engine-building and Instrument-building Associations, Immunopreparat and others. Joint-venture companies with foreign firms have been established and representation offices of foreign firms have been opened. The inhabitants of the capital are provided with foodstuffs by two meat-packaging factories, seven bakeries, flourmills, dairy plants, a confectionary, a macaroni plant, a tea-packaging factory, and Bashkir Cold Storage Kombinat. "Alekseyevski" State Farm is one of the largest agribusiness companies in Russia located near the city, it delivers fresh vegetables and fruit to customers in the capital throughout the year. As for foreign trade volume, Ufa City continues occupying the leading positions in the republic. In 2007 foreign trade turnover of Ufa's enterprises has totaled USD 1.5 bln. including export of more than USD 1.1 bln. and import totaling USD 346.2 mln. The number of the city's trade partners is equal to 78 countries with Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, China, India etc. among them. Ufa is a donor of the republic's and federal budgets. About 62.8 % of tax revenues accumulated on the territory of Ufa City municipal district of Bashkortostan Republic are directed to the federal budget and 29 % to the republic's budget. Investment attractiveness of the republic and its capital and their economic upturn are proved by appraisals of international rating agencies. The republic is in top 3 as for its minimum economic exposure and investment legislation environment. Over a period of 2004-2007 the rating doubled twice. As of today the international credit rating is "?+/Positive". The national scale rating has been raised from «RuA-» up to «RuA+». Ufa city municipal district administration places emphasis on the development of foreign economic relations, attraction of foreign capital, and implementation of large investment projects. Ufa City Administration actively co-operates with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on modernization of city economy and introduction of energy saving technologies. In 2006, the EBRD provided a 360 million rouble 10-year loan to the municipal housing utility "UJH" to modernize its district heating system in order to cut what had been chronic heavy losses of energy, heat and water. In 2007 a loan agreement was signed between MUP UfaVodokanal and the EBRD. The 500 million rouble loan will significantly help decrease the level of untreated sewage discharged into two tributaries flowing into the Volga River and thus cut Caspian basin pollution levels. At present, construction is dynamically developing in Ufa. Moreover, not only housing construction is being carried out, but also construction of educational and health care institutions, and transport works. In 2007 the city witnessed commissioning of many social, cultural and other anniversary facilities dedicated to 450th jubilee of Bashkiria voluntary joining the Russian State. Housing construction plays an important role in municipal economic, social and demographic policy. Thus, in 2007 owing to all sources of financial support, totally 612 thousand square meters of residential buildings were constructed and commissioned in Ufa. It is by 17 % more as compared to the same period of the last year. As for 2008, it is planned to construct and commission 670 thousand square meters in Ufa. Medical services to the city's population are rendered by cardiology, burn, laser surgery and reconstructive and plastic gynecology, neurosurgery and orthopedic centers; psychiatric hospital, maternity homes, tuberculosis, oncological and therapeutic physical training clinics. There are 58 therapeutic institutions including 16 hospitals, and 37 out-patient institutions. There are 217 preschool educational institutions, 170 general education schools, 23 public specialized secondary educational institutions, 21 public institutions of higher education, 6 private institutions of higher education and 18 vocational schools. The city numbers 11 national Sunday schools attended by over one thousand students. 150,000 students are enrolled in the city's universities, institutes and colleges. Ten scientific institutes have been created under the Ufa Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, as well as the Botanical Gardens, the Museum of Archeology and Ethnography which comprises a unique collection of verbal poetic and musical folk lore, exhibits in archeology, ethnography and anthropology. The capital of the Republic of Bashkortostan is closely associated with brilliant figures of culture - writer S.T. Aksakov, singer Fyodor Chaliapin, numerous scientists, publicists, actors, playwrights and writers. Today's Ufa harbors more than a hundred writers and poets, members of various creative and artistic unions of Russia and Bashkortostan, who live and work here. It is into many languages that the best works by Mustai Karim, the Honoured Citizen of Ufa, People's Poet of the Republic of Bashkortostan, have been translated. Seven creative artistic unions (of composers, writers, journalists, theatrical workers, architects, painters and photographers) are active in the city. The capital also boasts six theatres, Bashkir State Philharmonic Society, Bashkir State Puppet Theatre, museums, culture centers and clubs, a circus, ballet and choreography studios, cinemas, a planetarium, two centralized library networks, children's music and arts schools. Ufa is justly proud of the National Library named after Akhmet-Zaki Validi which houses about 2 million volumes in various languages, 200 manuscripts of the 15th and 16th centuries, editions of Russian classical writers printed during their lifetime. Ethnic culture festivals and recitals of Turkic, Slavonic and other nations are staged in the Republic's capital. The 1st World Kurultai (Congress) of Bashkirs, Tatars' Congresses, Sobor (Assembly) of Russians, and Kanash of Chuvashes have become the events of a global significance. The capital of Bashkortostan coached Olympic champions in various sports events. Among them are ice hockey, swimming, and speedway champions. The Palace of Sports and newly constructed "Ufa-Arena" multi-purpose sports facility which are the principal sports facility in Ufa host numerous international and domestic competitions. Residents of Ufa have about a thousand sports facilities at their disposal, including Tennis Palace, 6 stadiums, 13 closed-door swimming pools, a closed-door horse riding school, a shooting center, 254 gyms, mountain ski routes, biathlon and ski jumping facilities. "Akbuzat" Republican Race Course was opened on July 19, 1982, which is the center of horse breeding and equestrian sport in the Republic. In 2007 Ufa hosted celebrations dedicated to the 450th anniversary of Bashkiria voluntary joining the Russian State. According to the programme of preparation for and celebration of the anniversary, construction of "Ufa-Arena" multi-purpose sports facility for 8,407 places, the Congress Hall, as well as further renovation of "Akbuzat" Horse Racing Course, Ufa Railway Station, and "Ufa" International airport buildings were implemented. For further development of the capital of Bashkortostan Republic, the investment project ""Infrastructural maintenance of Ufa City Municipal District of Bashkortostan Republic's complex development" has been elaborated. The total volume of investments into the project will account for RUR 135 bln. Ufa City and the Government of the Republic will grant more than RUR 26 bln., while RUR 23 bln. will be provided from the Federal Investment Fund. The rest sum will be obtained from extra-budgetary resources. This project presupposes active participation of entrepreneurs in development of industrial production as well as construction of housing and business and shopping centers. Creation of new roads and building sites and development of engineering infrastructure will allow expanding business on a mutually beneficial basis.