Marat Gatin, Assistant to the Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan and Deputy Chairman of the Group of Strategic Vision (GSV) "Russia – Islamic World", participated in a ceremonial meeting of the Khakimov Club — an expert platform for public diplomacy. Organized in partnership with the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Russia, the event marked the beginning of a series of commemorative events celebrating the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
The meeting was moderated by Oleg Ozerov, Chairman of the Khakimov Club and Ambassador-at-Large.
Distinguished attendees included Sami bin Abdullah Al-Saleh, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Russia; Maxim Maksimov, Deputy Director of the Middle East and North Africa Department at the Russian Foreign Ministry; Walid Hamid Shiltagh, Ambassador of the Arab League to Russia; and leaders of the Association of Russian Diplomats. A notable participant was Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Pogos Akopov, who celebrated his 100th birthday this year — matching the century-long history of Russian-Saudi diplomatic ties. Andrey Baklanov, who served as Ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 2000 to 2005, and other honored guests were also in attendance.
Named after the legendary Soviet diplomat Karim Khakimov, the Khakimov Club is a special project of the Russian Foreign Ministry. The platform brings together professional diplomats, orientalists, and public figures to foster dialogue with the Arab world.
Saudi Ambassador Sami bin Abdullah Al-Saleh thanked the club and the ministry for organizing the meeting, calling it a "starting point for the next century of friendship and joint work." He reminded attendees that in 1926, the Soviet Union became the first country in the world to recognize Saudi Arabia and establish diplomatic relations, ties that have steadily deepened since their resumption in 1990.
Maxim Maksimov noted that the Soviet Union's historical recognition of Saudi Arabia within its current borders laid a solid foundation for multifaceted cooperation. Today, Moscow and Riyadh share similar or identical positions on most global and regional issues, based on a commitment to international law and territorial integrity. He highlighted the dynamic growth in trade and economic ties, the work of the intergovernmental commission, the visa-waiver agreement, and expanding humanitarian exchanges. Anniversary events planned for this year include the unveiling of a memorial plaque for Karim Khakimov in Jeddah and a photo exhibition at the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Andrey Baklanov emphasized expanding cooperation in the scientific sphere and the importance of the youth agenda. He confirmed Saudi Arabia's status as the guest country at SPIEF-2025 and announced further jubilee celebrations.
During his speech, Marat Gatin emphasized that the GSV "Russia – Islamic World" works closely with the Khakimov Club and intends to continue this fruitful partnership. "Joint work on public diplomacy platforms allows us to effectively strengthen the dialogue between Russia and the countries of the Islamic world," he noted.
A highlight of the meeting was the presentation of an updated edition of Oleg Ozerov’s monograph, Karim Khakimov: A Chronicle of Life.
The GSV, led by Rais of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, supported the publication of this book. The new edition, timed for the centenary, includes previously unpublished archival materials and photographs documenting the life of the diplomat who stood at the origins of Russian-Saudi relations.
Gatin stated that it was a great honor for the Group to contribute to this book, as preserving the memory of figures like Karim Khakimov is essential for educating new generations of diplomats and strengthening long-standing ties. He also highlighted Tatarstan’s role as a natural bridge in this dialogue, noting the republic's unique experience in interethnic and interfaith harmony.
The meeting demonstrated the high demand for public diplomacy platforms where open dialogue can generate ideas and projects intended to strengthen mutual understanding between nations for years to come.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"