Rustam Minnikhanov opens complex of White Mosque in Bolgar
10 June 2012, Sunday
Complex of White Mosque was opened in Bolgar within the framework of anniversary of official adoption of Islam by the Volga Bulgaria today. The Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov, RT State Counselor Mintimer Shaimiev, Prime Minister Ildar Khalikov, Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu and leaders of the Islamic clergy took part in the solemn ceremony.
The complex of White Mosque is located not far from the entrance to Bolgar near the southern gates of the museum-reserve. The complex comprises the mosque, residence of mufti, medrese, and prayer zone. The height of two minarets is 46,5 meters, diameter of the main dome is 17 meters. Walls are decorated with traditional picturesque elements.
Construction was implemented at the expense of investors – “Metalloinvest” holding, the charitable fund “Development of Ukraine”, JSC Tatneft and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Rustam Minnikhanov noted that every year the number of participants at the holiday “Izge Bolgar zhieny” increases. “I sincerely thank all imams, foreign guests, who have come here,” the RT President said.
“Today we are witnesses of revival of such a holy place – Bolgar. I am sure that everything we do we do for the good, friendship and consent,” Rustam Minnikhanov said.
President of Tatarstan thanked RT State Counselor Mintimer Shaimiev for his work on revival of Bolgar and Sviyazhsk, and investors who supported construction of the mosque, - Chief of “Metalloinvest” holding Alisher Usmanov, founder of the charitable fund “Development of Ukraine” Rinat Akhmetov, Director general of JSC Tatneft Shafagat Takhautdinov, the OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu.
Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu thanked Rustam Minnikhanov for invitation to take part in today’s event and greeted the audience on behalf of all 57 states – the OIC members. RT State Counselor Mintimer Shaimiev noted that Muslims from Tatarstan, Russia and abroad support revival of Bolgar. He thinks that the complex of White Mosque can be used not only for worship services. Training of religious figures can also be organized in medrese.
President of Tatarstan and RT State Counselor handed letters of gratitude of the RT President to builders and architects. Letters of gratitude of the “Vozrozhdenie” Fund were granted to investors who took part in construction of the mosque.
After official speeches, honorable guests looked over the building from the inside. Rustam Minnikhanov, Mintimer Shaimiev and leaders of the Muslim clergy performed first prayer in the new mosque. Rustam Minnikhanov also met with leaders of the Muslim clergy in the mufti residence.
He thanked imams for the visit to Bolgar. Attendees of the meeting discussed issues of training Muslim religious figures and other issues of Islam development in Russia.
Finally, Rustam Minnikhanov and Mintimer Shaimiev visited the Memorable Sign dedicated to adoption of Islam by the Volga Bulgaria.
On 5 May, speaking at a regular meeting held by the Rais (Head) of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov in the Government House of the republic with participation of the regional Prime Minister Aleksey Pesoshin and all municipalities taking part in it via videoconference, the Minister of Construction, Architecture and Housing Utilities Sector of the republic Marat Ayzatullin informed that currently 63 school catering units are under repairs with the amount of work completed reaching 15 per cent.
On May 26, speaking at a briefing in the Cabinet of Ministers of the republic held in a videoconference mode with participation of all municipal regions of Tatarstan and focused on events scheduled for June 1, International Children’s Day, as well as the implementation of the “Summer in Tatarstan” programme, Deputy Prime Minister of the republic Leyla Fazleeva appealed that parents should closely supervise their children during recreational activities near water in order to prevent accidents.
On 18 May ay the CIPR conference in Nizhniy Nogorod the Tatarstan Deputy Prime Minister Roman Shaykhutdinov, the Rector of the Innopolis University Aleksandr Gasnikpov and the Vice-rector of the University Yevgeny Bobrov will take part at round tables session of the conference.
Experts will discuss the role of Tatarstan and Innopolis as one of the key technological centers of the country and how regional innovative platforms help to solve tasks of the whole Russian industry. A special emphasis will be placed on the digital transformation of the oil and gas sector and how large clusters and scientific and technological centers are becoming drivers of industry change.
On 16 May, speaking at a meeting in the Government House of the republic held by the regional Prime Minister Aleksey Pesoshin with participation of the Rais (Head) of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov and all municipalities taking part in it via videoconference, the Minister of Agriculture and Food of the republic Marat Zyabbarov reported that the sowing of spring crops is in full swing in the republic with 1m 38 thousand hectares or 61 per cent of the planned have been sown.