Dear compatriots!

There are decisive days for the destinies of our country, preparations are being made for the election of the President of the Russian Federation, which will be held on March 18 this year. From our civic position, it depends on what the course of the country will be in the next 6 years. Elections are also a powerful factor in the unification of citizens of the multinational Russian Federation.

These days in the districts, cities, villages and labor collectives of the Republic of Tatarstan  sessions, gatherings, meetings devoted to summing up the results of the past year are being held. We are proud that we managed to overcome all difficulties and preserved a stable development of the republic in all spheres of life. Along with a businesslike, constructive discussion of the problems and tasks of the republic, this year citizens are interested in raising the issues of the upcoming elections of the President of the Russian Federation. Tatarstan and the Tatar people are interested in a successful holding of the election campaign of the President of the country. Naturally, during this campaign we defend the interests of our people, their national-cultural and spiritual needs, as well as the unity and inter-ethnic accord of the peoples of our country.

It is very important that the elections take place in the most democratic conditions, when each of us has the opportunity to freely express our civil position. We hope that the forthcoming elections will also be a new stage in the development of federal relations in our multinational country. Only on the paths of democracy and federalism is possible the free development of the peoples of our country, the preservation of their national identity. Therefore, we urge compatriots to actively participate in the election campaign and bravely to raise all the issues concerning interethnic relations and national interests of the peoples of the country.

Dear compatriots! We are all very different, of course, we can have different political views and beliefs. But we are all one in one: we all want the prosperity of our Motherland and its peoples. And this our unified will must manifest itself in active participation in the election campaign. Elections are a large school of civic activity, where the national consciousness of our people is formed, not least. The World Congress of Tatars calls on all of you to take an active part in the election of the President of the Russian Federation in the name of the highest interests of the country and our people.

Presidium of the National Council (Milli Shura) of the World Congress of Tatars