Murtaza Rakhimov, the first president of Bashkiria, died at the age of 88
Murtaza Rakhimov, the former leader of Bashkiria, has died at 88, according to reports.
From 1990 to 2010, he led the republic, initially as head of the supreme council and later as its president. Rakhimov was the second influential leader in the region after Mintimer Shaimiev, the Tatarstan leader, who retired in 2010 under President Dmitry Medvedev's serious rotation in the gubernatorial corps.
The decisions were made with great honor. Shaimiev, who still serves as a state adviser to the republic, requested Medvedev in January not to consider him for the next president of the republic. His colleague in Bashkiria resigned a year before the end of his term (in 2011). Rakhimov announced his resignation during a conversation with the president at the Bocharov Ruchey residence, and before that he consulted with the head of the Kremlin administration on the successor's candidacy. Not every regional leader received such honors. For example, the mayor of the capital, Yuri Luzhkov, was dismissed in October 2010 due to loss of confidence (he died in December 2019).
Although Medvedev expressed hope that Rakhimov would continue to work for Russia's benefit, he had distanced himself from the federal center long before. In 2009, the Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper published an interview with Rakhimov under the heading “Dissident of the Republic of Bashkortostan”, in which he criticized Moscow for “excessive centralization” and “United Russia” (it is “trying to be controlled by people who and did not command three hens”).
His strong statements caused dissatisfaction among his own officials. Rakhimov feared losing power. For instance, Radiy Khabirov, whom he had expelled from the regional administration at that time, has now returned to his homeland (the new head of the republic today expressed condolences regarding Rakhimov's death).
After stepping down as president, Rakhimov chaired the board of the URAL charitable foundation, which managed proceeds from the sale of OAO ANK Bashneft, and from 2010 to 2012, he served on the board of directors of this oil company. He later criticized the center, saying, “I think that now we are moving away from federalism. In such a large country, it is impossible to manage everything from one office. Regions are different in development, and people live in them differently, and without understanding, without taking this into account, we will not be able to move forward.”
After Rakhimov left office, Bashkiria, following the example of other regions, also abandoned the “symbols of power,” such as the title “president” for the head of the republic. Only Kazan continues to insist on its preservation.
