ETHNONATIONAL PROCESSES IN BASHKIRIA IN THE MIRROR OF REGIONAL PRESS
Main trends of ethnocultural development of Bashkirs are analysed on the basis of content analysis of 2498 texts of articles on the development of the Bashkir national culture published in regional newspapers of Bashkiria during 2003-2006. A distinguishing feature of this republics information space is related to the fact that even though official statements of regional authorities stress the multinational and polycultural nature of Bashkortostan, the national policy in this republic is primarily focused on Bashkirs. In many respects it is due to the fear of some representatives of the regional elite that Bashkirs may be assimilated by Russians.