On May 22, 1997, an agreement on friendship and cooperation was concluded between Tatarstan and Ichkeria

The text was not made public, but it was significant that it was signed by exactly those two republics that at the time refused to sign a federal treaty with Moscow.

Until now, one can only guess what exactly was agreed upon. However, Shaimiev said that this was a continuation of the way Tatarstan was following even before the Russian-Chechen war. What way was this exactly? The way to independence or vice versa? Society will judge. Shaimiev wanted Maskhadov to make a deal with Yeltsin, as Shaimiev himself did 3 years ago. But he refused, not trusting the Russians.

A few days earlier, Ichkeria had already concluded a Treaty on Peace and Relations with the Russian Federation. This treaty was based on the loss of Moscow’s troops in the Caucasus and caused the rushists a lot of pain, however they tried to present everything as a “victory” for Russia and called the treaty “historic and very important,” although they did not intend to take it into account at all. That is, at that time, Tatarstan entered into an agreement with virtually independent Ichkeria. Behind Moscow’s back or at its request? We will not know this until we see the text of the treaty. But, judging by his actions, Shaimiev was always trying to make peace with Moscow, so as not to involve Tatarstan in a big war. As we see, it did not work out. Well, there was a good chance, but it remained unrealized. And ethnic Tatars were already sent to the Second Chechen War, and they were forced to fight against their fellow believers…

It is impossible to appease Moscow, it is impossible to curry favor with it. This is not the boss. This is the enemy.