Acting President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov met with representatives of the Tatar community of the Republic of Buryatia on July 20. The meeting was held in Ulan-Ude in a newly opened House of Friendship of Peoples of Buryatia.

Acting President of Tatarstan thanked the leadership of the region for support of local Tatars and creation of favorable conditions for preservation and development of national culture and traditions. He noted that this year for the tenth time Sabantuy Baikal has been held in Buryatia.

Rustam Minnikhanov also spoke about the projects intended to bring together the Tatars all over the world: the program of remote online learning Tatar language “Ana tele” and satellite TV channel “TNV-Planet.”

Chairman of RNCA of Buryatia Tatars Sazhida Batalova in her turn told Rustam Minnikhanov about the history of settlement in Eastern Siberia and the Far East, Volga Tatars, as well as the village of Old Onohoy where today Tatars live compactly. According to her, in the village there is an urgent need for construction of the school with the Tatar ethno-cultural component. She asked Rustam Minnikhanov to assist in this project.

Also, Sazhida Batalova suggested holding in the territory of the Republic of Buryatia (the Baikal or Tunka Valley, bordering Mongolia) next Federal Sabantuy. Rustam Minnikhanov said that the issue would be worked out and pointed out that he himself is interested in the fact that this event took place near Lake Baikal.

The meeting was also attended by First Deputy Chairman of the Executive Committee of World Congress of Tatars Danis Shakirov.