Vasil Shaykhraziev, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan and Chairman of the National Council of the World Congress of the Tatars, is on a working visit to the Nizhny Novgorod Region. During his visit, he took part in an event celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Regional National-Cultural Autonomy of Tatars in the Nizhny Novgorod Region.

The Chairman of the National Council welcomed all the guests and warmly congratulated the organization on this significant occasion, wishing them continued success and longevity. He emphasized the importance and significance of the work accomplished by the autonomy over the past two decades.

The event was also attended by Igor Panshin, Deputy Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Volga Federal District; Pavel Karasaev, Minister of Internal Regional and Municipal Policy of the Nizhny Novgorod Region; Mars Tukayev, First Deputy Head of the Executive Committee of the World Congress of the Tatars and Head of the Committee for Interaction with Tatar Public Organizations in the Regions of the Russian Federation; delegates of the District Meeting; members of the Tatar community in the Nizhny Novgorod Region; and others.

During the evening, congratulations and heartfelt words of gratitude were expressed to everyone who contributed to the development of Tatar culture and language. Participants shared their memories of how, over the years, they succeeded in building a strong community that actively participates in the region’s life while preserving its traditions.

An important milestone in the history of the Tatars of the Nizhny Novgorod Region was reached in July 2004, when the “Regional National-Cultural Autonomy of Tatars of the Nizhny Novgorod Region” was established, uniting Tatars across the region. The autonomy was founded on the basis of the Nizhny Novgorod public movement “Tugan Yak” (Native Land), as well as the local national-cultural autonomies of Tatars in Nizhny Novgorod and Dzerzhinsk. RNKATNO emerged thanks to the efforts of activists from these organizations and Muslim spiritual leaders in the Nizhny Novgorod Region (U. Yu. Idrisov, D. V. Mukhetdinov, G. S. Zakirov).

Today, the “Regional National-Cultural Autonomy of Tatars of the Nizhny Novgorod Region” is a public organization dedicated to preserving the traditions and culture of the Tatar people. It unites Tatars who take pride in their history, culture, and language and who work together to ensure that their lives in the Nizhny Novgorod Region are dignified and fulfilling.