Location

The Republic of Tatarstan is located on the eastern frontier of Europe at the confluence of the Volga and the Kama rivers. The most outlying points of the Republic are in 56°39' North, 53°58' South, 45°15' West and 54°18' East. The distance from Moscow is 797 km.

Territory

The Republic of Tatarstan covers the territory of 68,000 sq. km which is roughly the size of such countries as Ireland, Lithuania, Sri-Lanka. The Republic stretches for 290 km from North to South and for 460 km from West to East. In the North it borders Kirovsky region (oblast), in the North-East Republic of Udmurtia, in the North-West-Republic of Mari-El, in the West-Chuvashia, in the East-Republic of Bashkortostan, and in the South-Samara Region (oblast), Orenburg region, Ulyanovsk region.

Relief

Relief of the Republic of Tatarstan is of flat character, 90% of the territory is 200 meters above sea level, with average height of 170 meters. The highest point of the Republic is 381 meters, the lowest point being 35 meters. The stable crystalline foundation of the platform is deep seated and is blocked all over by sedimentary rocks of 2000 meters, that makes Tatarstan seismically safe territory.

Climate

Climate in the Republic of Tatarstan is moderate-continental with warm, sometimes hot, summer and moderate cold winter. The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is -14°C (7°F), of the warmest (July) +19°C (66°F), the annual average temperature is +2.5°C (36.5°F). The annual average amount of precipitation comes to 500 mm, of which 2/3 fall on summer and autumn and 1/3 - on winter and spring. Moderate climate favours development of all kinds of agriculture.

Natural resources

The main wealth of Tatarstan is oil. More man 2.6 billion tons has been produced for the whole period of oil extraction in the Republic of Tatarstan (since 1946). At present, oil stocks of Tatarstan are estimated to be 0.8-1.0 billion tons. The most well-known oil fields are Romashkinskoye, Nova-Yelkhovskoye, Pervomaiskoye and Bondyuzhskoye. Along with oil, bradenhead gas is extracted in the amount of 40 cu. m per ton of oil. The Republic holds rich stocks of petroleum bitumens Besides, Tatarstan possesses the stocks of brown and black coal, goat, combustible slates, copper ores, gypsum, cement raw material, sand-gravel mixtures, mason's and glass-making sand, limestones and dolomites, clays, phosphorites, mineral waters, medical muds. The Republic has huge water resources - annual flow of rivers of the Republic exceeds 240 billion cu. m. Soils are very diverse, the best fertile soils covering 1/3 of the territory. Due to high development of agriculture in Tatarstan, forests occupy only 16% of its territory.
The largest rivers of the Republic are the Volga, the Kama and its two navigable tributaries-the Belaya and the Vyatka. The total flow of the four rivers makes 234 billion cu. m per year. Certain part of the territory of the Republic is occupied by reservoirs-the Kuibyshev and the Nizhnekamskoye.

The first settlements on the territory of the Republic of Tatarstan date back to Paleolith period (100,000 years ago). The first state -the Volga-Kama Bulgaria- was set up at the end of the 9th - beginning of the l0th century. For a long time it was the only developed state in the eastern border of Europe. In 1236 the Volga-Kama Bulgaria was invaded by Mongol-Tatars and became the part of the Turkic state Zolotaya Orda (Golden Horde). The collapse of Zolotaya Orda resulted in formation of a number of new states including the Kazan Khanate. It inherited ethnic, language, religious, cultural and trade-economic traditions of the Volga-Kama Bulgaria and Zolotaya Orda. After numerous wars and the seizure of Kazan in 1552, the Kazan Khanate was annexed by the Russian state. However, Kazan remained the religious and cultural centre for Moslems of middle-Volga region.
After the Bolshevik' revolution of 1917 the Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was founded (1920). On the 30th of August, 1990, the Supreme Council of the Republic adopted the Declaration on State Sovereignty of Tatarstan, confirmed by the referendum of March, 1992. According to the Constitution adopted on the 6th of November, 1992, the Republic of Tatarstan is a sovereign state, subject of the International Law, associated with the Russian Federation on the basis of the Treaty on mutually delegated powers. In relationship between citizen and the State the Constitution established priority of human rights as the highest of the social values. All citizens are guaranteed equal rights in all spheres of political, economic, social and cultural activities.
Since the end of the 7th century the predominant nation on the territory of Tatarstan is Turkic-speaking people, and, later, their descendants-the Tatars. Multicultural contacts with Russian state influenced both the Tatars and the Russians in cultural, language and other spheres. The Tatars assimilated from the Russians agricultural methods, specific construction methods, certain crafts and many social institutions; the Russians took from the Tatars such cultural achievements as post-service and general census of population. Some of Russian the noble families trace to Tatar origin. By the present time more than 5000 specimens of history and culture have been discovered.

Pages of history of Tatarstan

Population

The population of the Republic of Tatarstan numbers some 3.7 million, including 2.7 million of urban and 1.0 million of rural population. In Tatarstan there are 19 cities and towns, 22 urban settlements and 848 rural settlements. Density of population - 55 people/sq.km. Dynamics of population growth in 1995 per 1000: Birth rate -10,4, Death-rate - 12,93, Migration growth - 4,0

The average population density is 55 persons per sq. km. Tatarstan is a multi-ethnic republic made up of more than 70 ethnic groups. Two major ethnic groups are the Tatars (48.5% of the total population) and the Russians (43.3%).
Due to some historical reasons only one-fourth of all the Tatars living in the ex-USSR are residents of the Republic of Tatarstan. Large groups of the Tatars are residents of the Volga-Ural Basin, West Siberia, Don bass (Ukraine), Kazakhstan, Middle Asia states, and Moscow and St.Petersburg. The Tatar communities can be found also in many countries of Europe, Asia, America and Australia.

Language

Official languages of the Republic of Tatarstan are the Tatar language (Turkic group of Altaic language family) and Russian (Slavic group of Indo-European language family). The overwhelming majority of the Tatars speaks Russian. The Constitution of Tatarstan guarantees the equality of both official languages - Tatar and Russian. Nevertheless, Russian is still predominant in commercial circles.
English and other European languages are known by small part of the population.

Turkic writing has ancient traditions dated back to tile 5th-7th centuries, when the people started to use common-Turkic runic writing. Together with the Moslem religion since 10th century the Arabic script came to the Volga-Kama Bulgaria, till the year of 1928. In 1928-1938 the Roman-based alphabet was used, since 1938 the Tatar written language is based on Cyrillic script.
The history of Bulgar-Tatar literature numbers ten centuries; the first printed book in the Tatar language was published in the middle of 18th century. At present, about 600 books with total edition of some 8 mln copies are published in the Republic annually with 170 issues of periodicals and 30 magazines. Several dozens of periodicals are also issued in the Tatar language.
In the Republic there are 16 professional theatres, conservatory, State Symphonic Orchestra, 27 museums, 1800 libraries with 20 min books. Traditional festivals are: the International Opera Festival named after F.I.Shalyapin (who was born in Kazan), the Festival of Classic Ballet named after Rudolf Nuriev.
In Tatarstan operate 7 "creative communions" - Writers Union, Journalists Union, Composers Union, Cinernatography Union, Theatre Workers Union, Architectors Union. Under the Presidential authority the Fund for Culture Development and Support is established.

Museums, Theatres, National art, Galleries, Festivals...

The Sunnite Islam appeared in the territory of Tatarstan in the beginning of the l0th century: at present, it is confessed by half of the population of the Republic - the Tatars and the Bashkirs. The Tatars are the most Northern Moslem nation in the world.
The Orthodox Christianity appeared in the middle of the 16th century after collapse of the Kazan Khanate: it is shared by the other half of the population - the Russians, the Chuvashes, the Mari, the Udmurts. the Mordvinians, and some Tatars.
At present, about 700 mosques and 200 churches (some of them have not yet official registration) function in the Republic of Tatarstan.

Roman Catholic Church

Tatarstan has 16 institutions of higher education with the total enrolment of about 125,000 students. Among these institutions Kazan University is one of the oldest Universities in Russia (established in 1804). More than 54,000 students are enrolled in 67 technical institutions of secondary education. There are 2545 secondary schools, colleges, gymnasiums and lyceums, with total enrolment of 588,000 pupils. School literature is issued by "Magarif" Publishing House.

The Republic of Tatarstan has powerful scientific potential; the competence of Kazan scientists in the fields of mathematics, mechanics, chemistry, physics, linguistics, medicine, biology is recognised all over the world. In Kazan the Tatarstan Academy of Sciences and Kazan Scientific Centre of Russian Academy of Sciences are located, uniting numerous academic institutions of national significance. More than 60 branches of scientific and research institutes operate in the Republic. The large-scale scientific research works are also performed in the institutions of higher education.
The following are the basic fields of fundamental and applied studies: physics and techniques of magnetic phenomena, medicine and medical techniques, optical and microelectronics, the theory of oil extraction, organic and physical chemistry, development of technology for composite materials, etc. The subjects of studies are traditionally associated with the industrial profile of the Republic. There exist many investment-promising projects.

Science in Tatarstan

The Republic of Tatarstan has been proclaimed a sovereign democratic state in conformity with the will of its multi-ethnic people, expressed in a national referendum and set out in 1992 Constitution adopted on the basis of the results (61%). As regard the relationships between citizens and the state, the Constitution gives priority to the rights of man as the highest social value. All citizens have been guaranteed equal rights in all spheres of the political, economic, social and cultural life.
The Constitution proclaims the rule of law and the independence of the legislative, executive and judicial authorities. Tatar and Russian are national languages. Tatarstan repudiates violence and war as the means for settling disputes between people and states. The Republic has declared its territory free from weapons of mass destruction.
The Constitution reads that the land, the bowels of the earth, waters, forest and other natural resources, the assets of the State Bank, cultural and historical values and other property belong to the people of the Republic of Tatarstan. According to the Constitution, its economy rests on social market relations; the Constitution permits different forms of ownership, which are proclaimed inviolable. The Republic of Tatarstan admits and recognises the property of other states, international organisations, foreign legal persons and persons without citizenship. The land may be privately owned and used in any sphere of activity not forbidden by legislation.

I. Principles of State and Social System of Republic of Tatarstan

II. The Person and the State

III. The State System of the Republic of Tatarstan

IV. The Organization of State Power in the Republic of Tatarstan

V. The Judicial Power. Protection of Law and Order

VI. State Symbols and the Capital of the Republic of Tatarstan

VII. The Action of the Constitution and the Procedure of its Amendment

State Symbolic

State Flag

State Coat of Arms

State Anthem

Political profile

NAMES:
Conventional long form: Republic of Tatarstan
Conventional short form: Tatarstan
Local long form: Respoublika Tatarstan
Local short form: Tatarstan
Digraph: RT

TYPE: republican parliamentary democracy

CAPITAL: Kazan

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:
43 districts - Agryzsky, Aznakaevsky, Aksubayevsky, Aktanyshsky, Alekseyevsky, Alkeyevsky, Almetyevsky, Apastovsky, Arsky, Atninsky, Bavlinsky, Baltasinsky, Bougoulminsky, Bouinsky, Cheremshansky, Chistopolsky, Drozhanovsky, Kamsko-Ustyensky, Koukmorsky, Kaybizky, Laishevsky, Leninogorsky, Mamadyshevsky, Mendeleyevsky, Menzelinsky, Mouslumovsky, Nizhnekamsky, Novosheshminsky, Oktyabrsky, Pestrechinsky, Rybno-Slobodsky, Sabinsky, Sarmanovsky, Spassky, Tetyussky, Toukayevsky, Tuylyachinsky, Verhneuslonsky, Vysokogorsky, Yelabouzhsky, Yutazinsky, Zainsky, Zelenodolsky

STATE SOVEREIGNTY: 30 August 1990

NATIONAL HOLIDAY: Anniversary of the Declaration of the Republic, 30 August (1990)

CONSTITUTION: 6 November 1991

LEGAL SYSTEM: based on civil law system

SUFFRAGE: 18 years of age

EXECUTIVE BRANCH:
Chief of state President Mr. Mintimer Sharipovich SHAIMIYEV (since 12 June 1991, reelected 24 March 1996) election last held 24 March 1996 (next to be held 2001); note - no vice president; if the president dies in office, cannot exercise his powers because of ill health, is impeached, or resigns, the premier succeeds him;
Executive and administrative body of state power in the Republic of Tatarstan is the Government, i. e. the Cabinet of Ministers. Head of government Prime Minister Mr. Farid Khairoullovich MOUKHAMETSHIN (since January 1995);
First Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Ravil Fatykhovich MOURATOV. Cabinet of Ministers: Prime Minister, Deputies Prime Minister, Ministers (17), Chairpersons of State Committees (10)

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH:
unicameral, The State Council, 130 deputies (38 on the permanent basis), election last held 5 March 1995 (next to be held 1999), Chairperson of the State Council Mr. Vasily Nokolayevich LIKHACHEV. He is also Deputy Chairperson of the Russian Federation Council

JUDICIAL BRANCH:
Constitutional Court, Supreme Court (highest court for criminal, civil, and administrative cases), Superior Court of Arbitration (highest court that resolves economic disputes)

POLITICAL PARTIES:
There are about 200 parties and social movements in Tatarstan. 11 Parties have an official registration in the Republic:
Tatar Party of national independence ("Itiifac"), Tatarstan Republican Party, Communist Party of the Republic of Tatarstan, Tatarstan Party of Unity and Progress, Party of Russia Unity and Accord (Tatarstan's branch), Democratic Party of Russia (Tatarstan's branch), "Russia's Choice" (Tatarstan's branch), Liberal-Conservative Tatarstan Party, "People's Party Freedom Russia", Social-Democratic Party (Kazan Branch)

Law Pages

Treaty between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tatarstan

Agreement between Russia and Tatarstan in the sphere of foreign economic relations

Law of the Republic of Tatarstan on Foreign Investments in the Republic of Tatarstan

Decree on encouraging foreign investments in the Republic of Tatarstan

Law on the Status of Approved Investment Project with Participation of Foreign Investor

Law on Foreign trade activity in the Republic of Tatarstan

Curban Bairam is also considered to be a holiday; the date of this festival is calculated according to the Lunar Calendar and, for this reason, it has no permanent date.
The main economic sectors have five day business week with 41 business hours.

Economy

Tatarstan is one of the most economically developed republics of the former USSR. It has powerful industrial potential and stable agricultural sector. Three industrial regions are distinguished in the territory of Tatarstan: Old industrial Northwest region, the base of which is the Kazan - Zelenodolsk agglomeration. Major industries of the region are machine-building, chemical and light industry.
New industrial Northeast region with the core in Naberezhnue Cheiny-Nizhnekamsk agglomeration, major industries are automobile construction, chemical industry and energetics.
Oil-producing Southeast region with machine-building under development. The North, Central, South and Southwest parts of the Republic are rural regions.

Investment projects