On 6 July the Rais (Head) of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, who came on a working trip to Yekaterinburg to take part in the 15th International Industrial Exhibition INNOPROM, together with the Acting Governor of Sverdlovsk region Denis Paster participated in the regional Sabantuy fest which is held annually by the decree of the Governor of the region since 2005.

Welcoming participants of the fest, Rustam Minnikhanov thanked the leadership of the region for its continuous support of initiatives of Tatar national and cultural organizations.

“Sverdlovsk region is one of areas which are densely inhabited by Tatars. For centuries our compatriots have been living here in close friendship and mutual help with representatives of other ethnicities. The Tatar community of the region is marked by being very active – they organize popular sport competitions and musical festivals and preserve and develop Tatar culture,” he said.

In his turn Denis Paster thanked Rustam Minnikanov for coming and taking part in the fest.

Currently there are more than 93 500 Tatars living in Sverdlovsk region, which has officially registered 11 Tatar public organizations and six Muslim Spiritual Boards. Tatar language and literature are taught in 15 comprehensive secondary schools.