On December 19, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a final press conference, combining a direct line format with a Q&A session. Key topics included foreign policy and tax changes. During the four-hour event, the head of state answered 103 questions out of more than 3 million received from the public.
The President also answered a question about the emphasis in Russia's relations with the Islamic world, in particular, the attractiveness of Tatarstan and its capital, Kazan, to foreign Muslims.
The question was asked by Artur Khaliullov, deputy editor-in-chief of the Tatar-inform news agency. The journalist recalled that Kazan will become the cultural capital of the Islamic world in 2026 – a decision made during the 13th Conference of Culture Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Khaliullov drew attention to Russia's consistent improvement of relations with the countries of the Islamic world, the so-called Global South, specifically noting the role of the Republic of Tatarstan and its leader, Rustam Minnikhanov, in this process. The republic's efforts are being actively promoted jointly with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as within the framework of the Group of Strategic Vision “Russia - Islamic World”, which Minnikhanov also chairs.
"Tatarstan's example is undoubtedly extremely positive, and many of my colleagues from countries with predominantly Muslim populations are paying attention to this, looking at the positive experience of coexistence of people of different nationalities and faiths that Tatarstan is demonstrating to us," the Russian President expressed confidence. Before answering, Putin clarified that "the Islamic world is very diverse, just like the Christian world."
The Russian leader congratulated the republic and its capital on this international event. He recalled that the Group of Strategic Vision “Russia - Islamic World” began its work under Tatarstan's first leader, Mintimer Shaimiev, and is now actively supported by Rustam Minnikhanov. Putin suggested that it was no coincidence that Kazan was chosen to host future major international events within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), where Russia has been an observer country since 2005.
"Incidentally, it was I who approached my colleagues about Russia becoming an observer in the OIC. You know, this proposal was received with great pleasure by all our friends and colleagues, representatives of Islamic countries," Putin emphasized, calling it the right decision, given that one-tenth of Russia's population is Muslim.
Moreover, the Russian leader, without going into details of his conversation with Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, revealed the bishop's opinion that Orthodoxy—Eastern Christianity—aligns with Islam in a number of fundamental traditional values.
Putin also noted Tatarstan's successes in various areas of interaction with the Islamic world: spiritual, educational, and pedagogical. The president cited the opening of the Bolgar Islamic Academy in Tatarstan as an example: "This is a very important decision, given that we must train Islamic scholars on our own territory. The situation is developing similarly in Tatarstan's neighboring Republic of Bashkortostan," he added.
“We support and intend to support all traditional religions of the Russian Federation,” Putin concluded.
However, the Tatarstan journalist was allowed to ask one more question – about the president's possible participation in the next International Economic Forum "Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum." This annual event is the main platform for economic cooperation between Russia and the Islamic world.
In response, the Russian leader explained the logic behind distributing such events among members of the Russian government, but emphasized their importance.
"Nevertheless, this forum is very important, and we will certainly support it, because it is yet another link connecting us with our friends and allies in the Arab and Islamic worlds as a whole. And, it would be no exaggeration to say, with the Global South," Putin noted.
More than 16 million Russians watched the "Year in Review" broadcast with Vladimir Putin. Interest in this televised event continues to be high. In December 2024, the "Year in Review" television audience reached a five-year high of 17 million viewers. In 2025, ten television channels broadcast the "Year in Review" broadcast with the president, also a five-year high.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Official website of the President of the Russian Federation