Millet Mejlisi

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Millät Mäjlese, the National Assembly, was a body for Muslim Turko-Tatars of Inner Russia and Siberia. It was created by the Second All-Russian Muslim Congress and met in Ufa from November 20, 1917, to January 11, 1918. Sadri Mäqsudi was elected chairman; İbniämin Äxtämov was deputy chairman and Ğabdraxman Fäxretdinov was secretary. The Assembly did not recognize Soviet authority and decided to create the Idel-Ural State.

In January 1918 it set up the Commission for the Implementation of the Idel-Ural State, and the Milli İdärä (National Board) to run the future autonomy. Several committees worked under the Parliament, including those for legislation, mandates, education, finances, religion, territorial autonomy, and national regions. The Assembly had about 110 members, split into two factions: “Türkiysilər,” who supported national-cultural autonomy (for example Sadri Mäqsudi, Äxmäthadi Mäqsudi, Ğayaz İsxaqi, Zakir Qadıyri, Ğömär Tereğolof, and others), and “Tupraqçılar,” who supported territorial autonomy (for example İlyas Alkin, Hadi Atlasi, Ğalimcan İbrahimof, Sələxetdin Aðnagulof, Ğäbdelbari Battal, Sälimgerey Jantörin, Ğalimcan Şäräf, and others). About twenty elected members did not participate in meetings, including Mullanur Waxitof, Möxetdin Qorbanğälief, Rizaetdin Faxretdin, and Xädiçä Yamaşeva (Tanaçeva).

The Assembly’s sessions were held in a merchant Sämiğulla Şämğulof’s house, located at the corner of Aleksandrovskaya and Malaya Kazanskaya streets. There were also plans to move the Assembly to Kazan, to Ğabdulla Säğdief’s house on Yekaterininskaya Street.