The President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov has met with representatives of the Tatar community in the Kaliningrad region. The meeting took place , May 11, 2014, in the building of the Government of the Kaliningrad region.

The event was attended by Governor of the Kaliningrad region Nikolai Tsukanov, members of the Government of the Volgograd region. From the Republic of Tatarstan, the meeting was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Industry and Trade Ravil Zaripov, chairman of the Executive Committee of the World Congress of Tatars ( CGT ) Rinat Zakirov and others.

Welcoming the Tatar community activists , R. Minnikhanov outlined the projects contributing to uniting Tatars worldwide, allowing to preserve the native language and traditions of their people. These are satellite TV channel ” TNV – Planet ” and ” Ana ‘s tele ” – a project of learning Tatar language online via the Internet .

According to Rustam Minnikhanov , today it is difficult to keep the Tatar language , culture, people, their customs, especially outside of Tatarstan. One of the organizations that exist to unite Tatars is the World Congress of Tatars ( WCT ).

R.Minnikhanov noted that today the representatives of the Tatar youth from regions of Russia, including from the Kaliningrad region have the opportunity to study at universities in Tatarstan, relax and study Tatar language camps during the summer. As a successful example of the implementation of these directions he indicated the youth organization ” Salat “.

Tatars of Kaliningrad region appealed to the head of the republic with the request to assist in the resumption of construction of the mosque in the area ( its construction in the South Park of Kaliningrad was initiated in 2009). Today, the region is a home to one mosque, opened in 2010 in the village of Big Isakovo ( 150 people ). In addition, it was proposed to organize direct flights between Kazan and Kaliningrad.

Representatives of the Tatar community also asked to assist in organization of tours and concerts of Tatar artists, creative teams of the Republic of Tatarstan to the territory of the Kaliningrad region .

The President of the Republic of Tatartsan presented the most active members of the Tatar community for their great contribution to preserving and strengthening moral and spiritual and cultural traditions of the Tatar people, strengthening of international friendship and cooperation. Gratitude from the RT President of RT were handed to Chairman of the Kaliningrad regional public organization – the society of culture of the Turkic- speaking peoples ” Kardashlar ” Salema Yagudina , Chairman of the Kaliningrad Regional Public Organization of Tatars and Turkic-speaking peoples of the region, ” Tugan tamyr ” Venzel Salakhov , a member of the Kaliningrad Regional Public Organization of Tatar and Turkic -speaking peoples of the region , ” Tugan tamyr ” Hakim Bikteev.

Tatar community also has been gifted Tatar karaoke songs.

For reference. In the city of Kaliningrad live more than two thousand Tatars in the Bagrationovsky region – about 240 people, the Chernyakhovsky region – about 230 in the Sovetsky region – about 180, in the Gusevsky region – about 130 people . In rural areas and regional centers about 2380 people are settled.

Ethnic self-identification and consolidation of the Tatars in the area began in the early 90s . Tatar Diaspora is actively involved in social and cultural life of the region. Tatar culture societies organize the ” Tatar farmstead “, gave a concert , hold exhibitions of folk crafts, Tatar national cuisine. The societies of Tatar culture study past of Tatar people, folk customs are preserved. Tatar community exposes a great interest in the native language .