Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree awarding Tatarstan's first president, Mintimer Shaimiyev, with the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, the Kremlin website reported.
Shaimiev will turn 85 years old on Thursday. According to the press service, Mintimer Sharipovich will celebrate it with family and friends, protocol meetings are also planned, as many people want to congratulate the first president of Tatarstan personally.
"Vladimir Putin, by his decree, awarded Mintimer Shaimiyev the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle for his outstanding services to the state and many years of fruitful public activity," the report said.
The president also sent a congratulatory telegram to Shaimiev, noting that all of Shaimiev's activities are tied by blood ties to Tatarstan.
"Everyone who has had the opportunity to work or meet with you invariably notes your exceptional professional and human qualities, wisdom and simplicity, friendliness and ability to conduct a dialogue. At a crucial time, you were not afraid of difficulties, you were firmly following your convictions and principles and showing a measured and constructive approach to solving the most difficult and acute problems," the message says.
The president noted Shaimiev's enormous contribution to the region's socio-economic development and the preservation of its cultural, spiritual traditions, which earned him "the highest public authority and recognition throughout our vast country." "And your projects aimed at the revival of Christian and Muslim monuments have without exaggeration become visible symbols of strengthening the values of peace and harmony, for which Tatarstan is famous," the telegram adds.
Shaimiev was born to a family of hereditary peasants in the village of Anyakovo, Aktanyshsky District of present-day Tatarstan, on January 20, 1937. He graduated from the Kazan Agricultural Institute. In 1991 he was elected president of the Republic of Tatarstan. Two more times (in 1996 and 2001) he was elected head of the republic by the citizens of Tatarstan. In 2005 he was delegated by Russian President Vladimir Putin to become the President of Tatarstan.
The name of Mintimer Shaimiev is linked not only to the formation of the Republic at a crucial period of socio-economic and socio-political transformation but also to such breakthrough projects and programs of the late 1990s and early 2000s as elimination of dilapidated housing, gasification of populated areas, social mortgage and others. In many programs the republic takes the leading position in the Russian Federation.
In January 2010 Shaimiev asked the president of the Russian Federation not to consider his candidacy for the next term as president of Tatarstan. On March 25, 2010, Rustam Minnikhanov took office as the President of the Republic. Since April 2010, Shaimiev has been the State Advisor of Tatarstan, working on a pro bono basis. He also heads the Board of Trustees of the Republican Fund for the Revival of Historical and Cultural Monuments of Tatarstan.
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from RIA Novosti