Farit Mukhametshin, Deputy Chairman of the FC Committee on International Affairs and representative of the executive body of the Samara region, participated in a signing ceremony for a cooperation agreement between the Bulgarian Islamic Academy and the Volga Region Academy of Education and Arts, named after St. Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow. The event took place at the Government of the Samara region, with the agreement being signed by Farhat Husnutdinov, Rector of the Bulgarian Islamic Academy, and Dmitry Leskin, Rector of the Volga Region Academy.
Senator Mukhametshin emphasized the significance of this agreement for the development of religious education in the region and the establishment of long-term partnerships between leading spiritual institutions in Russia. The initiative for this collaboration came from Governor Dmitry Azarov of the Samara region.
The signing ceremony was attended by prominent figures, including Igor Komarov, Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of Russia in the Volga Federal District, Governor Dmitry Azarov, Metropolitan Sergius of Samara and Novokuibyshevsk, and Mufti Talip Hazrat Yarullin, Chairman of the Regional Religious Board of Muslims of the Samara region.
The agreement aims to strengthen cooperation between traditional religions, train specialized specialists in religious education, and facilitate the exchange of experiences in implementing educational programs.
The Bulgarian Islamic Academy, located in the Republic of Tatarstan, is a significant scientific and educational center offering higher religious education programs at the master's and doctoral levels. The Volga Region Academy of Education and Arts is the first university of its kind in the Volga Federal District and the third in Russia, offering a comprehensive humanities education in Togliatti.
Presidential Envoy Igor Komarov praised this initiative for promoting interaction between educational institutions of the two main religions in Russia. Governor Dmitry Azarov expressed his gratitude to all those involved in supporting the initiative, highlighting the importance of fostering interethnic and interfaith cooperation, elevating the standards of education, and contributing to the strengthening of spiritual values.
Earlier, on September 20, Farit Mukhametshin and Dmitry Leskin visited the Bulgarian Islamic Academy, engaging in discussions with its rector and faculty, exploring opportunities for further cooperation, and reaching agreements on the signing of the cooperation agreement.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Federation Council
Based on materials from the Federation Council