ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the far-reaching consequences of the Tatar bilateral treaty on Russia’s transition to federal democracy. Tatarstan’s pursuit and use of the bilateral treaty revealed an unabashed manipulation of the democratization process that ostensibly created a ‘state within a state’ that did indeed undermine federal democracy and could potentially, over the long-term, compromise the viability of Russia. Combined with Farid Mukhametshin’s declaration of Russia and Tatarstan as two states equal in power and rights and Tatarstan’s confederation formula was quickly, quietly emerging. The bilateral treaty was the beginning of a colossal ‘tug-of-war’ between Moscow and Tatarstan, to see who would be pulled to whose version of state-building. The way the republic used the bilateral treaty allowed elite entrenchment, prevented participation, eliminated competition and interrupted the Russian legal/economic space. It reduced Tatarstan to a region run largely by ruling clan. Putin clearly saw the commission’s work as leading to a complete overhaul of the bilateral treaty system.
