Despite Russian attempts to prevent the vote, it went ahead on schedule and the results showed that 62% of voters approved of Tatarstan's sovereign status while 38% opposed it.

The vote was peaceful and afterward Tatarstan adopted a new constitution declaring it a "sovereign democratic state" and a "subject of international law".

The treaty, signed on 15 February 1994, granted Tatarstan significant autonomy while it agreed to remain part of Russia but with "special status".

[10] Tatarstan, among Russia's most industrialized and prosperous regions, had long sought to expand its rights, especially over its economy and resources.

Tensions reached a boiling point when Yeltsin began pressuring Shaimiev to endorse the upcoming Federation Treaty slated for 25 March 1992.

On 29 October 1991 thousands of nationalists attempted to storm the Tatarstan Supreme Soviet after lawmakers refused to declare independence, injuring several people.

[17] Meanwhile farther away, Yeltsin's attempt to act tough on secession by sending the military to Chechnya, which had declared independence in November 1991, met with resistance and failed.

[18][19] Feeling emboldened by Yeltsin's apparent weakness and needing to quell nationalist sentiment, Shaimiev announced that a referendum was to be held on 21 March 1992, four days before the treaty.

Critics of the referendum charged that Shaimiev only conducted it to preserve his power and that of the former communist elite and was using the nationalist movement as a new base of popular support.

[27] A day before the referendum, Shaimiev in a speech said "I, as the President of sovereign Tatarstan, declare that we are forever with the Russian people, with Russia.

"[28] In a May 1992 interview after the referendum Shaimiev explained that the wording was deliberately meant to be unclear and that a direct question might have led to undesired outcomes.

[31] However, a spokesman for the Democratic Party of Russia (DPR) claimed that some of its observers were harassed, detained, and prevented from monitoring some polling stations in rural areas by police allegedly searching for drugs.

[13] Some pro-Russian groups refused to recognize the legal force of the referendum and the Kazan branch of the DPR proposed declaring the city under "Moscow subordination".

[34] Tatarstan Prime Minister Mukhammat Sabirov warned Russia that force must not be used to maintain unity of the country and called for negotiations on a new relationship.

[37] Tatarstan opposed several aspects of the treaty, including joint control over natural resources and lack of a clause allowing for secession.

[34] Nonetheless, Tatar representatives were in Moscow to seek a separate treaty, with the Russian government saying it was flexible but stated there were obvious limits.

[38] Tatar nationalists responded to the results by convening an all-Tatar Kuraltai that formed a rival government, issued a declaration of independence, and spent the next few months attempting to wrest political power from the Supreme Soviet.

The courts, organs of justice, and law enforcement were all transferred to the republic's jurisdiction and it declared that all state property belonged to Tatarstan.

[40] On 30 November 1992 Tatarstan adopted a new constitution which declared it a "sovereign democratic state" and a "subject of international law".

[41] Despite progress on negotiations the ultimately thorny issue of Tatarstan's status remained unresolved and by 1993 relations between the two sides began to break down.

The Russian government feared that giving too much concessions would risk spreading similar sentiments to other republics, threatening disintegration.

[46] By 21 September the dispute escalated in to a constitutional crisis when Yeltsin forcefully disbanded the parliament and rebel lawmakers barricaded themselves in the White House where they voted to impeach him.

[52] In the shadow of Yeltsin's power struggle with parliament, negotiations with Tatarstan continued largely uninterrupted until 21 September.

[14] In June 1993, both signed multiple agreements ranging from oil and petroleum transportation, education, customs duties, and environment.

[14] By the end of 1993 most issues had been settled, however, Russia still insisted Tatarstan sign the Federation Treaty which it continued to resist.

[54] Other areas of concern fell under joint jurisdiction including the defense industry, monetary policy, duty-free transportation, and law enforcement.

[57] Such practice of negotiating bilateral treaties faced criticism from other regions and individuals alike, however, Yeltsin defended them saying they kept Russia intact.