Interview to Sputnik Estonia: Vasil Shaikhraziev on European Sabantui 2019

November 23, 2018

Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan Vasil Shaikhraziev and Russian Ambassador to Estonia Alexander Petrov  have  confirmed the choice of a place for the all-European Sabantui in an exclusive interview with Sputnik Estonia.

At a meeting with the Russian ambassador Alexander Petrov,  Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan and the head of the National Council of the World Congress of Tatars, Vasil Shaykhraziev, noted that the venue for Pan-European Sabantui in Tallinn in 2019 has been  finally determined – the Tammsaare park at the center of the Estonian capital.

To solve organizational issues, Vasil Shaykhraziyev met on Wednesday, November 21, with the head of the Tallinn City Assembly, Mikhail Kylvart, and the mayor of the Estonian capital, Taavi Aas, and also visited possible places to hold an important holiday for all Tatars.

In an interview with Sputnik Estonia, Vasil Shaykhraziyev spoke about the preparation of the Pan-European Sabantuy, which will take place on June 16, 2019 in Tallinn, as well as the impressions of his first visit to the capital of the Republic of Estonia.

– Your visit to Tallinn is connected with the preparation of the biggest holiday for the Tatar people – Pan-European Sabantui. Did you manage to reach an agreement with the leadership of the city of Tallinn regarding this event?

– Of course, I arrived, having worked this issue in advance. In all countries of Europe, the Tatars are united into centers and diasporas. So that we could work together better and represent our people in the European Union, we have united in the Alliance of Tatars of Europe, and in 2014 we began to hold a European-wide Sabantuy.

For the Tatar people Sabantuy is an ancient tradition. After the completion of the spring field work in all Tatar villages, district centers, small towns, the Tatars unite and organize a holiday – have fun, sing many songs, dance, and organize sports competitions. At the same time plans for the future were discussed.

Our Tatar center in Estonia proposed to hold a Pan-European Sabantuy in Tallinn on June 16, 2019. According to preliminary agreements with the city authorities, it was suggested that they could consider this issue if Russia, in particular, the leadership of Tatarstan and the World Tatar Congress (CGT), offers support and proposals for the event.

Having worked on this issue with our Embassy, ​​the leadership of Tallinn and the center of the Tatars in Estonia, we arrived in Tallinn with a large delegation from the government of Tatarstan, the VCT and the Almetyevsk municipal district and looked at possible venues for Sabantui.

Of course, the possible places are not ideal for a holiday. In Tatarstan, places for Sabantui are being prepared in advance. The city has to adapt to parks, squares. From the options in Tallinn, in my opinion, we chose the best. It is not quite suitable, but it is the most convenient, where we can expand this holiday.

Today, we were already at the leadership of the city, which supported the holding of Sabantui. Now we will gather the organizing committee, which will include representatives of Tatarstan, VCT, Almetyevsk municipal district, and together we will prepare a magnificent holiday, to which Tatars from Europe will be invited. Of course, it will be a great holiday for residents of Tallinn and Estonia.

Sabantuy will be held in Tammsaare Park. The city administration has recognized that Sabantuy meets all the norms and requirements that are imposed by the city authorities on measures, and is ready to begin forming an organizing committee.

– How many people are expected at Sabantui in Tallinn?

– Everything will depend on us. We believe that Sabantuy is a holiday not only for the Tatars. It is for everyone. We, Russians, live in the Russian Federation, and coming from Tatarstan and organizing this holiday, we invite to it both the Tatars, and all our compatriots – immigrants from Russia, those who temporarily or permanently live in Europe.

For all we will find interesting activities at the festival. We invite to the celebration of all local residents. Through national holidays, people get to know each other closer. Sabantuy will be a presentation of the Tatar people. Doors will be open to all.

Considering that the holiday lasts a whole day, one of the people will drop in for half an hour, someone for an hour, someone will leave, someone will come, and around many green areas where you can settle down with refreshments to watch sports and festive event, speeches, there should be enough space for everyone.

– How was your meeting with the leadership of the city of Tallinn?

– I would like to note the positive mood of the meeting and the full support of the head of Tallinn. The leadership of Tallinn, endorsing our holiday, stated that the budget for 2019 already has a row in relation to the event, it remains only to determine the estimate that should be presented to the city.

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