organizations to provide a legal address.

Agents Nab Scientists Trying To Sell Truth SerumBashkortostan Interior Ministry officers arrested two Bashkir scientists after they allegedly tried to sell the psychotropic agent psychotron and homemade explosives, RFE/RL's Ufa correspondent reported on 7 May. The agent is reportedly used as a so-called truth serum, and was used by Soviet special forces during interrogations of prisoners.

One of the arrested individuals is from the Organic Chemistry Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Ufa, while the other worked for Ufa's Petroleum Chemical and Catalysis Institute.

State Provides Loans To Farms To Ensure Fuel SupplyBashkortostan farms were reportedly given 272 million rubles ($8.7 million) in state loans to ensure a stable fuel supply for farm machinery during the upcoming sowing season. Bashkortostan's farms are expectedto use 109,000 tons of diesel fuel and 27,900 tons of gasoline during this year's sowing season, Bashkortostan state radio reported on 7 May.

Moscow Gives Rahkimov Honorary AwardOn 30 April, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov signed a decree awarding Bashkortostan President Murtaza Rakhimov an honorary certificate for his contribution to the military education of the population of Bashkortostan and for helping ensure the country's defense abilities, RFE/RL's Ufa correspondent reported on 8 May.

Veterans Mark Victory Day With Children Of Those Lost In Chechen WarA Victory Day ceremony for veterans on 7 May at Ufa's Officers' House was also attended by about 50 children of soldiers from Bashkortostan who were killed in the current conflict in Chechnya, Bashkortostan state television reported the same day. The ceremony was organized by