Rustam Minnikhanov inspects houses in historical centre of Kazan city

President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov has inspected historical buildings of Kazan during a walking tour around the city centre. The excursion for RT President was held by a Kazan guide, member of board of Tatarstan branch of All-Russia association for protection of historical and cultural monuments Olesya Baltusova.

The activist of movement on maintenance of Kazan historical image O. Baltusova wrote a letter addressed to President of Tatarstan in her blog inviting him to see historical buildings which may perish soon in the city center. Rustam Minnikhanov accepted the invitation and on August 28 personally looked over the old buildings during a walking tour.

Head of Tatarstan walked along Bauman street and saw one of neglected yards. O. Baltusova paid attention to the state of hotel “Kazan” expressing her worries about poor state of its façade.

The oldest building in Kazan - a house of Ivan Mikhlyaev was shown to Rustam Minnikhanov. In 1722 the emperor Peter I stayed there. It is situated on the territory of garment factory “Adonis” that is why tourists are not allowed to see the building. It can only be seen from the side of Petropavlovsky Cathedral. The building is currently in a half-ruined state. The same can be said about group of buildings of “Nobility Assembly” which was also seen by President of Tatarstan. Facade of these buildings overlooks Rakhmatullina street. Foreign tourists often walk along this street. Olesya Baltusova told that foreign guests are surprised by such state of historical buildings in thousand-year Kazan.

Rustam Minnikhanov said about necessity to bring owners of such historical buildings to responsibility.

President of Tatarstan also visited Staro-Tatarskaya Sloboda (literally “Old-Tatar Sloboda”). By words of Olesya Baltusova there are several well-kept buildings here such as Marjani mosque or restored building on Fatykh Karim street where policlinics № 7 is now located. Some of old wooden houses are being kept by their dwellers. At the same time half-ruined buildings are nearby - house of Shigabutdin Marjani, Apanaevs’ merchant family house. Large housing complexes are being built at places of ruined historical buildings. Rustam Minnikhanov was indignant at this fact. He believes that construction of high houses cannot be allowed in historical centre.

President of Tatarstan gave assignment to Minister of construction, architecture and housing Irek Faizullin to check issued licenses and insist on reconsidering projects of houses under construction from builders if necessary.

On finishing the excursion Rustam Minnikhanov thanked Olesya Baltusova and assured that in future much emphasis will be put on protecting monuments and keeping historical environment in Kazan. He also gave assignment to responsible bodies of RT Government to develop more walking tours for organizing such revisions.