Ramil Bignov, who sits on the Bashkir opposition alliance's coordinating council, announced the decision to cancel the May Day action at a meeting of political and religious leaders, community activists, and local government officials. He explained the cancellation by the forthcoming celebrations to mark Orthodox Easter, which this year falls on May 1, and also the 60th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War.
The gathering issued a joint communique and a protocol of actions in connection with the V-E anniversary. Bignov hailed the documents, saying they would make a good basis for dialogue with the incumbent government.
In the communique, leaders of Bashkir political parties express their willingness to declare a moratorium on all actions of protest and to abstain from any extremist activities that may hurt the feelings of WWII veterans. They say the moratorium does not mean they are giving up political struggle. It is just that they feel personally responsible for maintaining peace and stability in the region.
