Mintimer Shaimiev and Mikhail Piotrovsky visit Bolgar museum-reserve

Tatarstan State Counselor Mintimer Shaimiev and Director of the State Hermitage, member of the Guardian Council of the republican fund “Vozrozhdenie” Mikhail Piotrovsky have visited Bolgar state museum-reserve.

The excursion around the Bolgar town started from the River station and the Museum of Bulgar civilization. Then, Mintimer Shaimiev and Mikhail Piotrovsky visited the Memorable sign dedicated to adoption of Islam as a state religion by the Volga Bulgars in 922.

Mikhail Piotrovsky was especially impressed by the “Ak Mechet” complex which was officially opened on June 10 this year during the holiday “Izge Bolgar zhyeny”. He shared his impressions from the visit to ancient Bolgar:

“I have not been here for about three years and I see great changes which have happened here. These changes were made with special emphasis on archeological monuments and restoration rules. You are not just doing good, you are creating the recipe of how we should do it, and what we should always do. Russia has given many recipes to the world. In particular, here, in the Volga region you demonstrate how different nations of the Orthodox and Islam religions live together. We are reviving these traditions since our ancestors learnt to do many things properly.”

“Mikhail Piotrovsky knows this land and its history very well. He knows what we started from, how our deeds progress in Bolgar and Sviyazhsk. Within the last two years restoration work has been implemented in accordance with requirements and rules of science and international institutes. We are satisfied with what we have done, but we know we have much work to do in future,” Mintimer Shaimiev said finishing the excursion.