Russia: Stirring the Pot in Bashkortostan

A Moscow court recently ruled that the Russian government can take small portions of the Republic of Bashkortostan-owned Bashneft as reparations for unpaid taxes, Russian business daily Kommersant reported July 11. Bashkortostan is a relatively autonomous region in Russia with substantial natural resources. The Moscow court ruling signals a new willingness to impinge on Bashkortostan's economic and political independence — which could stir up trouble among Russia's marginalized ethnic and religious minorities.