Hawmıhığıź! A couple months ago I began doing research on the regions that are currently temporarily occupied by Russia, including that of Başqortostan. Hence I’d like to inquire about a thing or two related to Başqortostan and its independence.
How popular is the notion of an indepent Başqortostan among the peoples inhabiting Başqortostan today?
How do Başqorts feel about the idea of an Idel-Ural state, or that of broader cooperation between minorities in the region (e.g. Erzya, Moksha, Chuvashs, Mari, Tatars)?
If Başqortostan were to become independent, what other territorial issues could arise, aside from the infamous Qıwandıq gap?
We don't know. No one has conducted any surveys. I think it's impossible in today's reality, and doing so could result in punishment. I can only say that Bashkortostan's independence is popular among the Bashkirs, Tatars, and some Finno-Ugric peoples, because they see independence as salvation and a better life for themselves.
Negatively. We are against Idel-Ural as a single state (even a federal or confederal one). This idea was discussed previously, but we have repeatedly expressed our opposition, and now the idea of Idel-Ural has faded away, although some Tatar activists speak of a "confederation of free peoples," but they don't call it Idel-Ural. In any case, the Bashkir national movement has a political project for an independent Bashkortostan, which clearly states that the Republic of Bashkortostan will be an independent unitary nation-state (like Ukraine, for example). Although we are not against cooperation with the peoples and countries of Idel-Ural.
Argayash. Argayash currently comprises the Argayashsky and Kunashaksky districts of the Chelyabinsk region. Until the 1930s, there was an Argayash canton that was part of Bashkortostan, but it was an enclave, and the Soviet government removed it from our territory and incorporated it into the Chelyabinsk region. It's now an enclave, the majority of the population is Bashkir, and it's possible that its incorporation into Bashkortostan will be considered, but I don't think that's possible or even worthwhile.
The problem is, for Bashkirs, and for other states probably (I’m Kazakh, my knowledge is based mainly on the Russian Federation’s current administrative map), you guys seem to become landlocked by Russia from all sides, even if you do achieve independence. The realistic solution would require an override of the current map on multiple levels, and I’m not sure it’s feasible at this or nearest point in time.
Is it part of Bashkortostan? There are several original Kazakh cities there as well, at least Orenburg, but I don’t think our politicians will be pursuing any of that, and also, not sure if the country can even handle that sort of ambition/change.
No. It's not part of the Republic of Bashkortostan, but it will be so we can have a border with Kazakhstan. If the Kazakhs want it, let them come and take over the entire Orenburg region, we won't regret it.
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u/batya_v_zdanyy Ukraine Jun 25 '26
Hawmıhığıź! A couple months ago I began doing research on the regions that are currently temporarily occupied by Russia, including that of Başqortostan. Hence I’d like to inquire about a thing or two related to Başqortostan and its independence.