Mintimer Sharipovich Shaimiev. Biography Shaimiev short biography

Mintimer Shaimiev was born into a Tatar family. The surname of his father, Shagisharip Shaimukhametovich (1901-1967), comes from the fact that Shaimiev’s grandfather (1870-1929) was called Shaimi in the village.

Shaimiev's childhood occurred during the war and post-war years. In 1954, after graduating from school, he entered the Kazan Agricultural Institute. After graduating from the institute, in 1959 he worked as an engineer, then as chief engineer at the Muslyumovo tractor repair station. At the age of 25, he was sent to Menzelinsk to manage the regional branch of Agricultural Equipment.

In 1967, he began his administrative career - he worked as an instructor, deputy head of the agricultural department of the Tatar regional committee of the CPSU. In 1969-1983 - Minister of Land Reclamation and Water Resources of the Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, then First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic; 1983-1985 - Secretary of the Tatar Regional Committee of the CPSU; 1985-1989 - Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the TASSR; in 1989 elected first secretary of the Tatar regional committee of the CPSU; 1990-1991 - Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Tatarstan.

On June 12, 1991, he was elected President of the Republic of Tatarstan on an uncontested basis. In 1996, he was re-elected for a second term in uncontested elections, receiving more than 90% of the vote. In 2001, the presidential elections were held for the first time on an alternative basis: in addition to Mintimer Shaimiev, four candidates took part in them, including two members of the Russian Duma (Sergei Shashurin and Ivan Grachev). Shaimiev received 79.5% of the votes.

Under the leadership of Shaimiev, the Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Republic of Tatarstan was adopted, and the Constitution of the Republic of Tatarstan was developed and adopted. On the initiative of Shaimiev, a Referendum on the sovereignty of Tatarstan was held in 1992, during which about 62% of voters voted for Tatarstan to become a sovereign state. With the active participation of Shaimiev, an Agreement was concluded between Tatarstan and the Russian Federation in 1994. (Boris Yeltsin recalled Shaimiev in this regard: “what help and support he provided when the national question was being resolved! When we were on the verge of general national discord in Russia. After all, the two of us were able to come to an agreement, and immediately all the republics supported it and picked up.")

In August 1991, during the coup attempt, Shaimiev supported the State Emergency Committee.

Under the leadership of Shaimiev, the periodically convened World Congress of Tatars was established. He headed the official delegation of the Republic of Tatarstan at the II World Kurultai of the Bashkirs in 2002 and at other important events of federal and regional significance. Initiator of the "Hague Program".

Member of the State Council of the Russian Federation (member of the Presidium of the State Council of the Russian Federation 2000-2001). In 1999, he was one of the founders and co-chairs of the all-Russian party “Fatherland - All Russia”, which joined the United Russia party on December 1, 2001, and co-chairman of whose Supreme Council he became.

On March 25, 2005, the State Council of the Republic of Tatarstan vested Shaimiev with the powers of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan on the proposal of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin (before this, Shaimiev raised the question of his credibility with Putin).

On January 22, 2010, 73-year-old Shaimiev, two months before the expiration of his powers, announced the withdrawal of his candidacy from the list of 3 contenders for the powers of the President of the Republic, introduced at the end of 2009 by the ruling United Russia party. “Mintimer Shaimiev asked the President of Russia not to consider his candidacy,” said press secretary of the Russian President Natalya Timakova. Shaimiev explained that he supports the course stated by Dmitry Medvedev in his Address to the Federal Assembly, and believes that it is necessary to give the younger generation of politicians the opportunity to prove themselves, Interfax reported. “Shaimiev thanked the head of state for the trust and support that he felt while leading the republic,” the press secretary added.

The powers of Mintimer Shaimiev as President of Tatarstan expired on March 25, 2010. On the same day, the inauguration of the second President of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, took place.

Subsequently, Shaimiev occupied the newly established unpaid honorary position of State Councilor of the Republic of Tatarstan, who is a lifelong member of Parliament and the subject of introducing legislative initiatives at the republican level.

In addition, Shaimiev is the initiator and head of the Foundation for the restoration and development of the island-city of Sviyazhsk and the Bolgar settlement as museum-reserves of federal significance.

On February 6, 2012, he was officially registered as a proxy of the candidate for President of the Russian Federation and the current Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

Wife - Shaimieva Sakina Shakirovna (born 1939) Sons - Airat (1962) and Radik (1964), one of the richest businessmen in Tatarstan, with official multi-billion dollar annual incomes. The sister is the owner of a chain of stores in the eastern part of the republic.

He remains the record holder for the longest tenure of the head of a subject of the Russian Federation (6862 days), surpassing, among others, the mayor of Moscow Yuri Luzhkov and the president of Bashkortostan Rakhimov.

Awards and titles

• Order of Lenin (1966)
• Order of the October Revolution (1976)
• Order of the Red Banner of Labor (1971)
• Order of Friendship of Peoples (1987)
• Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 1st degree (January 20, 2007) - for outstanding contribution to the strengthening of Russian statehood and the socio-economic development of the republic
• Order of Merit for the Fatherland, II degree (January 17, 1997) - for great personal contribution to the strengthening and development of Russian statehood, friendship and cooperation between peoples
• Order of Merit for the Fatherland, III degree (February 6, 2010) - for a great contribution to the socio-economic development of the republic and many years of conscientious work
• Medal “In memory of the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg” (2003)
• Medal “In memory of the 1000th anniversary of Kazan” (2005)
• PM award pistol (January 20, 2002)
• award edged weapon - personalized saber “Eastern” (replica of the Iranian saber “shamshir” of the 16th century);
• Certificate of Honor from the President of the Russian Federation (December 12, 2008) - for active participation in the preparation of the draft Constitution of the Russian Federation and great contribution to the development of the democratic foundations of the Russian Federation
• Order "For Merit to the Republic of Tatarstan" (2010)
• Medal “In commemoration of the production of the three billionth ton of oil in Tatarstan” (2007)
• Order of Honor and Glory, II degree (Abkhazia, 2003) - for significant contribution to strengthening peace and friendly relations in the Caucasus and active assistance and support to Abkhazia
• Order of the Blessed Prince Daniel of Moscow, 1st degree (ROC, 1997)
• Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh, 1st degree (ROC, 2005)
• Badge of the Russian Foreign Ministry “For contribution to international cooperation” (2007)
• Certificate of Honor from the Government of the Russian Federation (1997)
• State Prize for Peace and Progress of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan (2005)
• Honorary citizen of Kazan (2005)
• Al-Fakhr Order of Honor, first class (June 2005)
• King Faisal International Prize (Saudi Arabia) - “for his contribution to the revival of Islamic culture.” (2007)
• Honorary member of the Russian Academy of Arts
• Olympic Order (2008) - “for outstanding contribution to the development of the Olympic Movement.”
• Order of Friendship of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 1st degree (2010).

After M. Shaimiev was awarded the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, III degree, in February 2010, it was reported that M. Shaimiev became a full holder of this order, since “Shaimiev already has this order of the first, second and fourth degree,” however, the decree The President of the Russian Federation about awarding M. Shaimiev with the Order of the IV degree was not officially published; On the official website of the President of Tatarstan, there is also no data on awarding M. Shaimiev with the Order of the IV degree.

Achievements of the Republic of Tatarstan under Shaimiev

• In terms of agricultural production, Tatarstan ranks second in Russia after the Krasnodar Territory (2008).
• In terms of housing construction per capita, Tatarstan is in first place in Russia (2008).
• In terms of GRP, Tatarstan ranks sixth in the Russian Federation in 2008.

In 2010, on the Rossiya 24 news channel, Mintimer Shaimiev noted that the main result of his presidency was the change in attitude towards the people of Tatarstan and the fact that Tatarstan, according to Shaimiev, played a huge role in preserving the integrity of the Russian Federation (Russia) during the years of perestroika, the text of the first presidential oath signed by M. Shaimiev was also shown

The first President of Tatarstan, a federal politician who headed the republic in Soviet times and held power until 2010, wrote his name in the history of the country. Mintimer Shaimiev, full holder of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland and Hero of Labor of the Russian Federation, is put on a par with the people who glorified the region: Renat Akchurin, .

Childhood and youth

The future president of the republic was born in January 1937 in the village of Anyakovo into a family of Sunni peasants. Mintimer is the 9th and penultimate child in the family. The name Shaimiev translates as “I am iron.” According to national tradition, parents gave “strong names” to their offspring if their firstborn died before their birth. Before the birth of the eldest son Hantimer, followed by Mintimer, the Shaimievs had four heirs die.

The childhood of the future statesman fell during the difficult war and post-war times. The Shaimievs' sons got involved in work early. Father - Shagisharip Shaimukhametovich - led the collective farm. In the late 1940s, people in the village were plump from hunger. The chairman allocated 2 bags of millet for public catering, for which he almost ended up in prison.

Seeing his father’s ordeal, Mintimer decided to become a prosecutor, but in his senior year he listened to the advice of a parent who dreamed of seeing his son become an MTS engineer. In 1954, Shaimiev was awarded a matriculation certificate, and he became a student at the Agrarian University (then the Agricultural Institute) in Kazan.

Mintimer chose the Faculty of Mechanization, which he successfully graduated in 1959, receiving the specialty of mechanical engineer. After graduating from the university, Mintimer Shaimiev got a job as a mechanic at the Muslyumovo regional tractor station. Soon the smart engineer was promoted to chief at RTS. 3 years passed, and Shaimiev was appointed head of Selkhoztekhnika in Menzelinsk. The young manager turned 25 years old.

Policy

The young and ambitious Shaimiev became a member of the CPSU and in 1967 changed his place of work - he moved to the Tatar regional party committee: the former mechanical engineer was appointed as an instructor in the agriculture department. Soon he becomes deputy head of the department.

After 2 years of nomenklatura-party work, the career of a native of the outback makes a rapid leap upward: Shaimiev is appointed minister. 32-year-old Mintimer Sharipovich is entrusted with the leadership of the republic’s agricultural sector.

Politician Mintimer Shaimiev

The unspoken rules of hardware games have been stopping Mintimer Shaimiev’s career advancement for 14 long years. The talented administrator failed to break the established hierarchy and break through the dense cordon of elderly officials replacing each other in strict order. Only in 1983, Shaimiev took the post of deputy chairman of the republican government, and 2 years later he headed the Council of Ministers of the Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.

Perestroika, initiated by Russia, gave ambitious regional politicians a chance to advance. The future president of the republic accepted the challenge of the time and participated in the battle of the apparatchiks. Having beaten his competitors, he took the chair of the first secretary of the regional committee of the CPSU of Tatarstan.

In 1990, Mintimer Shaimiev headed the Supreme Council of Tatarstan, concentrating power in his own hands. The beginning of the 1990s, marked by the parade of sovereignties of the former republics of the USSR, posed new challenges for the head of Tatarstan. Shaimiev did not strive for complete independence of the republic from the center and supported the State Emergency Committee, but he could not ignore the sentiments of the nationalists.

In the summer of 1991, a native of the Tatar province became the first president, leaving his rivals far behind. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the head of the republic joined the struggle for expansion of rights and independence from the Russian Federation, while not wanting complete separation from the federal center. The struggle between Shaimiev and the ruling elite of Tatarstan culminated in a declaration of state sovereignty.

The region's economy developed dynamically, the living standards of the republic's residents were higher than those of its neighbors, who tragically experienced the crisis of the 1990s. Mintimer Shaimiev was re-elected to the presidency until 2010, easily defeating his competitors. Residents of Tatarstan voted for him, not really listening to the opposition’s criticism, which pointed to the president’s family taking control of sectors of the economy into their own hands.

Towards the end of the 1990s, the ambitious leader went beyond the boundaries of national education and, together with him, founded the Fatherland - All Russia party. The party rapidly gained weight in the Russian parliament, but the “undercover struggle” of heavyweight politicians ended in defeat: the founders of the OVR capitulated, agreeing to unite with the Unity bloc.

Soon a pro-government party was born in the political arena, called “United Russia”. The authoritative leader from Tatarstan took the chair of co-chairman of the United Russia Supreme Council, where he remained for many years.

In total, Mintimer Shaimiev led the republic (including the USSR period) for 21 years. The leader’s political biography ended in 2010: in January, the 73-year-old native of the village of Anyakovo recused himself and left the three candidates for the post of president of the republic. But for the respected politician, the honorary position of state adviser was established, in which Shaimiev remains today.

The position of adviser allows Mintimer Sharipovich to remain a member of the republican parliament forever, introduce draft laws and influence public life.

Shaimiev’s achievements during his leadership include the growth in agricultural production (in 2008, 2nd place in the Russian Federation after the Krasnodar Territory). Tatarstan became the leader of the Russian Federation in housing construction and took 6th place in gross regional product (2008).

Mintimer Shaimiev calls the main achievement of his twenty-year reign the changed attitude towards the people of the republic and the preservation of the Russian Federation from further fragmentation during the perestroika period.

Personal life

Shaimiev met his future wife at a dance. After graduating from college, Sakina came to the Kalininsky district, where Mintimer did his pre-graduation internship. She liked the girl with long hair at first sight, and the young man did not waste time: he once invited her to dance, and then spent the whole evening talking with her friend, learning everything about Sakina.

The parents liked their son’s choice, and soon Mintimer brought his young wife to Muslyumovo, where his father and mother lived. The first president of the republic married once and forever. Family is an unshakable value for the leader of Tatarstan. In the 1960s, Sakina gave birth to her wife two children - sons Airat and Radik, the difference between them is 2 years.

The sons of the ex-president are successful businessmen, whose wealth, according to Forbes, exceeded $1 billion each. The Shaimievs Jr. are co-owners of the Russian holding company TAIF. This is a group of companies that controls half of the oil refining, chemical and gas processing industries of the republic. The central office of TAIF is located in Kazan.

Mintimer Sharipovich’s sister owns a chain of retail outlets in the east of Tatarstan.

In 2015, Shaimiev married his granddaughter Kamilya, who owns part of the TAIF holding. The girl was included in the list of the Russian Forbes magazine. Her fortune was estimated at $190 million. Kamila graduated with honors from MGIMO.

Grandson Timur received a diploma from a British university and works in the oil industry. The youngest granddaughter Leila graduated from school with a gold medal.

Mintimer Shaimiev now

You can learn about the activities of the State Counselor of the Republic on the Official Tatarstan website. Shaimiev is engaged in research work and the revival of the ancient settlement of Bolgar and the island-city of Sviyazhsk.

In January 2018, the president visited an aircraft plant in Kazan and visited the sick Mintimer Shaimiev, who was included in the list of trusted persons in the presidential elections, in the hospital.

Shaimiev handed over to the President of the Russian Federation the 8th volume of the Book of Philanthropists, in which there was a place for Vladimir Vladimirovich.

Awards and achievements

• 1966 – Order of Lenin
• 1971 – Order of the Red Banner of Labor
• 1976 – Order of the October Revolution
• 1987 – Order of Friendship of Peoples
• 1997 – Order of the Blessed Prince Daniil of Moscow, 1st degree
• 1997 – Order of Merit for the Fatherland, II degree
• 2003 – Order of “Honor and Glory”, II degree (Abkhazia)
• 2005 – Honorary Citizen of Kazan
• 2005 – Al-Fakhr Order of Honor, first degree
• 2005 – Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh, 1st degree
• 2007 – Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 1st degree
• 2007 – King Faisal International Award (Saudi Arabia)
• 2008 – Olympic Order
• 2010 – Order of Merit for the Fatherland, III degree
• 2010 – Order “For Merit to the Republic of Tatarstan”
• 2010 – Order of Dostyk, 1st degree
• 2013 – Order of St. Anne, first degree
• 2014 – Order of Merit for the Fatherland, IV degree
• 2015 – Order “Duslyk”
• 2017 – Hero of Labor of the Russian Federation
• 2017 – Order of Merit for the Republic of Dagestan

Hero of Labor of the Russian Federation, full holder of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, first president of the Republic of Tatarstan (1991–2010), state councilor of the Republic of Tatarstan, honorary citizen of the city of Kazan and the Altai Republic

Born on January 20, 1937 in the village of Anyakovo, present-day Aktanysh district, into a family of hereditary peasants. Father - Shagisharip Shaimukhammatovich Shaimiev (1901–1967). Mother – Nagima Safiullovna Shaimieva (1897–1979) Wife – Sakina Shakirovna Shaimieva (born 1939). Sons - Airat (born 1962), Radik (born 1964). Grandchildren: Kamila (born 1987), Timur (born 1989), Leila (born 1997).

Our family is ancient. However, not everyone bore the surname Shaimiev. In the archives of the 19th century, such a surname does not appear at all. Where did she come from? In any case, not in the name of Shaimi - we don’t have such a name. There is Shaimukhammat, Shaimurat...

The fact is that everyone in the village called my grandfather Shaimukhammat Valimukhammatovich by the affectionate diminutive nickname Shaimi. In those days, children's surnames were written using the father's name. The clerk apparently asked the grandfather: “What is your name?” - “Shaimi.” Clear! So, we’ll write down our son as Shaimiev. This is how the first Shaimiev appeared in our family - my father - Shagisharip Shaimukhammatovich. And he, in turn, was called Sharip in an abbreviated version in the village. Likewise, all his children turned out to be Sharipovs. Although, in theory, they should have been Shaimukhammatovs... But when I received my passport, I wanted to take my father’s surname.

And my middle name – Sharipovich – could sound different. After all, my father’s name was not just Sharip, his full name was Shagisharip! But then they didn’t pay much attention to such “little things”, so such a transformation of names was considered normal and, of course, completely legal. So, after my father, I became the only Shaimiev in the family. And even now there are not so many Shaimievs: my two sons and their children. Thus, this surname has already acquired its own history.

Unfortunately, I don’t know much about Shaimi’s grandfather. They say that he was a very strong, wealthy owner before the revolution, whose family was known throughout the area. The Soviet government was one of the first to dispossess it. My grandfather's house and all his livestock were taken away. They, with their grandmother and children, were kicked out into the street, in whatever state they were wearing! True, they did not send my grandfather’s family to Siberia, or to the North, or anywhere else to certain death. It was supposedly saved by the fact that he did not have hired workers; the large and hard-working family managed the farm independently...

Mom and Dad later told us what kind of families they lived in and who sheltered them. And all their lives they were grateful to those people who were not afraid of their mercy. After all, at first no one from our family was given work, and the household was ruined. My father even went to Izhevsk to earn money... Then he returned and, despite his biography, became the first chairman of our collective farm. Because our family has long been highly respected in the local area. My father was loved and respected by his fellow villagers for his innate ability to properly manage the household. And in those troubled times they could only entrust their fate to a reliable and economical person.

And the origin of the name of the first future President of Tatarstan also has a very unusual and rather dramatic history.

It so happened in our family that every time after the birth of a child, only girls remained alive - in difficult times, apparently, the female sex clings to life more tightly. But the boys all died. Before I was born four of the older brother died.

Life was not easy at all - without basic medical services, decent housing, not enough food and much more. However, the girls survived, which means the Almighty needed it that way.

That’s when someone reminded the parents of an old national belief: if a newborn boy is immediately called a “strong name,” then he will not die in the cradle, but will certainly survive. Because the name that is given to a person is the beginning of his destiny. Whoever they call him, that’s how he will grow up, as if trying to justify his name...

Therefore, my older brother, he was born in 1934, was named Hantimer - “Iron Khan”, as literally translated from the Tatar language. And then, three years later, when I was born, I received an equally strong name - Mintimer. “Min” means I, “timer” means iron. “I am iron”, literally.

This durable, at that time very expensive, scarce, especially in villages, material, having become the basis for the names of babies, in the opinion of our parents, was intended to protect their children from illnesses, and once they got on their feet, then from more complex life troubles and adversities .

That’s basically what happened to us.

True, there is another explanation for the name Mintimer. More scientific, perhaps. In Tatar my name is written like this: “Miшtimer” (“n” with a tail). This letter changes the meaning of the name and is pronounced softer. “MiЈ” is a mole, “God’s mark” on the human body. This is what the Tatars think. So it turns out that the word is no longer the pronoun “I”, but the adjective “labeled”. What comes out? "Marked by God." Apparently, the parents also had this nuance in mind. This was important for them, as well as for the mullah. So it turns out that Mintimer is not only “iron”, but also “marked by God”, and therefore a “happy” person in principle.

The childhood of the first future president was ordinary for his rural generation. The hardships of wartime, meager living, malnutrition, considerable physical activity, on the one hand, and on the other - the openness and kindness of rural people, communication with wildlife, fascinating games and unique delicacies, knowledge of the surrounding world, introduction to sciences, literature , art.

Already at school, the boy stood out among his peers with his academic abilities and leadership character. And his ideas about his future profession were largely dictated by the circumstances of his life. At first, Mintimer had a strong desire to study as a lawyer and become a prosecutor. This was due to a difficult period in their family history. In 1949, a criminal case was opened against my father for distributing some oats from the seed fund to collective farmers in the spring so that they would not die of hunger. This case could also turn into a political one, given the “kulak” past. Local prosecutor Kashapov was especially zealous in inflating the case. And although in the end everything turned out well, we had to go through a lot. It was then that young Shaimiev developed an ardent desire to prevent the Kashapovs from triumphing, a desire to defend justice personally. This guideline has always remained in life and determines a lot in the activities of Mintimer Shaimiev.

But other priorities also appeared over time. And when the time came to choose a profession, new considerations came to the fore.

My older brother Huntimer worked as a combine operator and gradually introduced me to technology. There were not a lot of machines in the village, and therefore the machine operator was entirely dependent on the chief engineer of the MTS, that is, the machine and tractor station. In our area it was a certain comrade Kateev. MTS was a key enterprise in the countryside in the 30-50s of the last century, God and king for collective farms!.. All machine personnel and all agricultural equipment were concentrated in one place and cultivated the lands of the entire region.

And when I was in the 10th grade and dreamed of becoming a prosecutor, the collective farm received a paper from the Kazan Agricultural Institute named after Maxim Gorky - applicants were invited to the new faculty of agricultural mechanization. For my father, this was a super-dream come true. They wrote about the faculty in the newspaper, and I even remember how my father, showing me a note about it, said: “Here, look. If you study there, you will become Kateev!” And since the authority of the chief engineer of MTS in our family was unlimited, I went to study “under Kateev.”

In 1954, Mintimer Shaimiev became a student at the Kazan Agricultural Institute. Despite his obvious extraordinary abilities and good preparation, this was not so easy for him to achieve.

The problem was that for all ten years in the rural school we studied in the Tatar language. And I had to take the college exams in Russian! Native republic, it would seem, and such discrimination! Try not only to write an essay, but at least to pass physics, chemistry, mathematics, without being fluent in Russian!.. The teacher could find fault with any inaccurate word and lower the grade. It was clear: exams in Russian would require a very high level of knowledge from us. In any case, much higher than the one with which an applicant of Russian nationality will come to the same institute. To answer tickets most first They translated questions from Russian into Tatar, prepared an answer in Tatar, then translated them again into Russian, wrote everything down and only then went to answer. Of course, these guys sat longer than others working on the answers. And when they came out to answer, they were embarrassed by their native language, if some word suddenly popped up by chance... Since then, I consider any “embarrassment due to belonging to a nationality” a disgrace to humanity. And the problem of the national language, the establishment of equal bilingualism in the republic from that moment never left me indifferent. Particular difficulties arose, of course, when writing the essay. What was to be done? There was only one thing left to do: choose a free topic in advance and learn all the words, phrases, and sentences by heart. I prepared several such essays on different topics and tried to memorize them. Thank you, my memory didn’t let me down that time either. During the essay, one of “my” topics came up. Student life provided ample opportunities for the realization of Mintimer Shaimiev’s diverse talents. He clearly showed himself as an organizer and leader. During this period of life there were also very serious trials, the value of some of them could only be understood many years later. I still remember with a special feeling our trips to the virgin lands, to the Pavlodar region in 1957 and 1958. Good grain harvests were grown, and the whole country rushed to help the virgin lands - to harvest precious grain. We, students - agricultural mechanical engineers in no time - knew how to handle any agricultural machinery, which is why they especially needed us in the virgin lands. We worked right on the border with the Semipalatinsk region, somewhere nearby a restricted zone was designated. However, no one warned us about this. We knew that the country had both atomic and hydrogen bombs, and we heard that they were being tested at the Semipalatinsk test site. But we could not even imagine that we would become living witnesses and even participants in real nuclear tests. It all started with the fact that one day a military gas car came spraying towards us, and a man in an officer’s uniform with a group of soldiers, quite casually, as if they were talking about something familiar, announced to us: on such and such a day, at 2 p.m. There will be another atomic bomb test. First, planes will appear and outline two or three circles. A general warning for us is a signal. We turn off the engines, step off the control platform of the combine, lie down on the ground with our stomach down and our heads in the direction strictly defined by the officer, and wait until the tests of the atomic bomb are completed. On the designated day and hour, we did everything exactly as we were told. And of course, they looked with all their eyes at the sky: what kind of miracles are happening there? It's hard to say at what distance We were away from the epicenter. I wanted to believe that it was decent... Then the waves came. The first one is the strongest. Following the flash, we saw a slightly elongated ball rapidly increasing in size, which gradually began to turn into a swirling mushroom cloud. The second wave turned out to be a little weaker, the third and the others already passed over us quite gently. An impressive picture appeared right before our eyes - a characteristic “mushroom” appeared on the canvas of the sky, which grew for some time, turning into an ugly cloud. And then for a long time red dark clouds floated directly above our heads - the kind you can see at sunset. But the time was about 15-16 hours, no later. I couldn’t believe that these clouds contained the worst thing - radioactive dust that could kill hundreds of thousands of people. During two seasons of working in the virgin lands, I witnessed two or even three nuclear explosions. These were the so-called “ground tests”. Soon they were banned, and bombs began to explode underground. But we didn’t see this anymore; we left the virgin lands. I won’t say that radiation had any strong effect on my health. Or maybe I just don’t feel it until now.

During his student years, the happiest meeting happened in the life of Mintimer Shaimiev, which became the most important for him and determined a lot in his fate.

And here is pre-graduation practice, 1958. I was sent to the Kalininskaya MTS, which was located next to our village. It was very convenient: I lived at home, everything around me was familiar, my own... On the very first evening I went to a dance at a local club. And there, near the door, I saw Her... An unfamiliar girl stood in a white blouse, in a fashionable black velvet sundress. Just a beauty with long luxurious braids... I immediately fell in love! I still remember absolutely everything clearly: what she was wearing, what position she stood in, sparkling eyes, quiet voice. And what a look!.. If I were an artist, I would certainly draw it exactly. So my bachelor life was over, stopped with one glance... I approached her and asked her to dance. We met. I said my name, she said hers: Sakina.

This was his chosen one for life, the future “first lady” of Tatarstan. Strong mutual love, a strong family have become a reliable foundation for the construction of the road of life, the complete and comprehensive realization of the individual.

Soon I defended my diploma, graduated from college and became a rural engineer. And at this time, as luck would have it, the Kalininsky district was abolished, and Sakina, who came here from Kazan on assignment, was left without work. She had to return to Kazan and get a job at the Teplokontrol plant. In addition to work, she also studied at the correspondence department of the Moscow Institute of Trade, at her favorite Faculty of Planning and Economics. We loved each other and explained things a long time ago. I was sure that things were heading towards a wedding. But Sakina asked me to first give her the opportunity to get a higher education. She valued her studies very much, because she grew up in difficult conditions, everything in life was not easy for her. At one time, she did not have the opportunity to study at the institute, because she had to quickly get a specialty at a technical school, get a job and earn at least some money for her family. Therefore, Sakina literally dreamed of higher education. But love took its toll, and on June 7, 1961, we finally got married.

Having graduated from the Kazan Agricultural Institute with a degree in mechanical engineer in 1959, Mintimer Shaimiev began working as an ordinary engineer, but very soon his career growth began. The makings of a successful leader appeared in the young specialist quite quickly.

I was 23 years old when I was appointed chief engineer of the Muslyumovskaya RTS (repair and technical station). According to the assignment of the institute, I ended up in the district adjacent to my native one - Muslyumovsky. I worked as a state technical supervision engineer for several months, and now I have my first assignment. My father’s dream came true - I became a “real Kateev”. True, he worked for MTS, by that time they had been renamed RTS, but the essence was the same. This is already a new page in my life, and, I think, the most interesting. I started working independently in my specialty and immediately saw what wonderful opportunities opened up for me. Indeed, one could create, invent, try! After all, this is all it is – happiness, the real thing.

Mintimer Shaimiev used his first independent area of ​​work with maximum efficiency. He took up new technologies in the most promising branch of agriculture in those years - corn farming.

What is the main thing in corn growing technology? Get a square on the field. The most advanced method at that time, which decided the fate of the harvest. There were no herbicides. And in order to be able to effectively process corn from all sides, when sowing it was necessary to achieve a square of 70 x 70 centimeters, leaving a plant protection zone of about 10-12 centimeters. Hence the harvest. But getting a square on a huge field was really not easy. Equipment and devices often failed. And then I developed a method in which a corn square was obtained in any condition of the tension stations. Many machine operators and managers did not understand how Shaimiev could suddenly produce a square without any glitches. Our method amazed everyone! Especially the first secretary of the Muslyumovsky district committee of the CPSU Magsum Shaekhzamovich Khusainov. He began to be terribly proud of me: of course, in his area there is a person who can get a square in any conditions! As a result, our region received the highest corn harvest in Tatarstan. Then they started talking about us, and the name Shaimiev “thundered” outside the republic. In newspapers and magazines, and not only republican ones - in all-Union ones! – they began to write about our square, print beautiful photos. At first, such attention to him caused considerable embarrassment for the young specialist, but thanks to his activities, things in the region were clearly going uphill.

And when a council of young corn farmers was organized in the regional committee of the Komsomol of the republic, it was Mintimer Shaimiev who was elected chairman of the republican council. Then he was nominated from the region as a delegate to the regional Komsomol conference. And there a completely incredible event happened for a recent village boy - he was elected as a delegate to the XIV Komsomol Congress, which opened in the Kremlin Palace of Congresses on April 16, 1962.

In fact, then a new sharp turn in my life began: Moscow, Komsomol Congress, in the presidium - the first people of our state: Nikita Sergeevich Khrushchev, 1st Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, Yuri Alekseevich Gagarin, the world's first cosmonaut... And I am very close to them. On the same team, one might say.

Impressions from Moscow, from participating in the congress, communication with famous, bright people gave a lot to the young specialist. It was here that he received the impetus for further development, professional growth and the confidence that he could handle large-scale tasks. But he intended to realize his capabilities and ambitions in his native land, in specific areas of work that might seem routine to someone, but for him were a field for limitless creativity. He was still visible. He was noted, nominated, and offered new positions. In 1962, he was appointed manager of the Menzelinsky district association “Agricultural Equipment.

They transferred me to Menzelinsk, I began to work. At first, however, I felt some embarrassment. After all, I was subordinate to directors of similar divisions of the other five districts included in our territorial administration who were more experienced than me. Not to mention dozens of ordinary subordinates. But since I took up the tug... It was the beginning of the five-year plan. Almost everything went well and worked out amazingly for us back then, and we were even lucky with the weather. The harvests were decent. I really worked from the heart, although at times I was exhausted to the point of nausea. As soon as my head touched the pillow, I immediately seemed to fall into a black bottomless pit... And with dawn I was like a cucumber again. I got up at five in the morning, had a quick breakfast, drank the usual cup of tea with milk and left the house for the whole day. It ended with the fact that five years later I, twenty-nine years old, was awarded the Order of Lenin. Such awards were not given just like that, especially since I didn’t have any others of a lower status yet! Well, there was a certificate of honor for virgin lands - that’s all. Again some kind of miracle happened - that’s how I assessed it. When I was awarded the order, I dropped by home, but there was no one at home. He took a pen, and inside the box from the order, on white silk, he wrote a note to his wife: “Dear Sonulya, this award of the Motherland belongs equally to both of us.” She still remembers how touching it all was, and tears of joy and pride flowed...

More than once Shaimiev was offered to engage in party work, which at that time was a good step in career growth, since it dramatically expanded his managerial capabilities and horizons. However, for him it seemed more acceptable to remain in the profession for which he studied, for which he aspired and in which he had already achieved a lot. But in 1967, a line about switching to party work nevertheless appeared in the biography of the future president.

When I was offered to go to work in the regional party committee, I initially refused. Although moving to Kazan, and even for party work, would seem to be a very good step on the path of life. But I felt differently about it. I didn’t want to give up a job I loved. After all, it was only with people that I really got along, and the team received me well. There is a roof over your head, a wife at work, and the boys are growing up. Again, my native village is close - only thirty kilometers away. There is father, mother, sisters with their families, brother. On Sundays we tried to meet, had dinner together, discussed business and problems. Well, what else did you think you need for complete happiness? However, the regional committee still convinced me, pressing on such concepts as duty and responsibility. And so in 1967 I became an instructor at the Tatar regional party committee. I lost my salary by half. But it’s okay, they say that money doesn’t buy happiness. In general, what they say is correct. It was a very difficult time for me. In the summer it turned out that my father was seriously ill. The news came like a bolt from the blue - everything happened so unexpectedly. That same year we buried dad. ...A year later my probationary period ended, and I became a real party worker - deputy head of the agricultural department of the Tatar regional committee. He entered, as they say, into the nomenklatura. What was party work like for me? Yes, the same school, studies, continuation of the same production activities. Because it was then that I gained invaluable communication experience and began to better understand people who worked at different levels, including at high levels.

A new level of Mintimer Shaimiev’s managerial career was just around the corner. He did not stay too long in the regional committee. Energetic, capable leaders were needed in the most promising areas of the national economy. And the party level at that time was deservedly considered the main personnel reserve for managerial work on an industry scale. And in 1969 a new appointment took place.

During the time of Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev, a decisive emphasis was made on land reclamation. On this wave, after a two-year “run-in” in the regional committee, in 1969 I was appointed Minister of Land Reclamation and Water Management of the TASSR. I became the youngest minister not only in the republic, but also in the country - in the water sector. When I arrived, the Ministry of Land Reclamation and Water Management was considered one of the most backward and unpromising. The decree appointing me as minister was signed somewhere at the end of December 1969, and before that, in the rank of deputy head of the agricultural department of the regional committee of the CPSU, I oversaw the mechanization of agriculture, gasification, construction and, among other things, land reclamation. So these industries were quite familiar to me...

Less than two or three years have passed since Mintimer Shaimiev became minister, and people started talking about republican land reclamation at various levels. Articles also appeared in central newspapers. The experience of the republic's land reclamation workers in creating cultivated irrigated pastures attracted everyone's attention and was recognized as advanced. Seminars on land reclamation problems began to be held here. So, in 1972, land reclamation experts from all over the country came to the All-Union seminar in Kazan and studied unique experience on the spot. And this area of ​​work became for M.Sh. Shaimiev’s next “finest hour”. But life did not stand still. And new successes created the basis for new proposals for promotion in management service.

The last thing I thought about in my life was my career. But it continued to develop quite steeply. In 1983, I became the first Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. And it so happened that at the next party plenum I was immediately elected secretary of the regional committee for agriculture. This, it seemed to some, was an extraordinary decision. Well, sometimes the twists of fate are inscrutable! So, at the age of 46, I again found myself in the regional committee of the CPSU, but at a higher level. I had a decent amount of ministerial experience behind me, and I gained some authority in the republic. In any case, managers at various levels, primarily at the district level, now knew me very well. This was important for productive work in a new position; there was no need to ask for time to build up, to get into the swing of things.

When M.Sh. Shaimiev became secretary of the regional committee, and the development of new technologies began in agricultural production. This was his strong point. And therefore he again found himself in the public eye, at the helm of the primary processes in the republic’s economy. Of course, activities of this kind and scale contributed to further strengthening the authority of the leader, his promotion to the most leading roles and positions. They didn't have to wait long. In 1985, another appointment took place.

I met Gorbachev's perestroika in a new position for me - Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. 1985, spring, the party sets a course for renewal. The period is very difficult. What happened in politics was not always adequate to the situation in the economy. On the one hand, changes in political and social life inspired people and opened up opportunities for various ambitions of politicians. The euphoria is complete. But someone needs to feed and water everyone, and keep the economy at least at the same level. In Tatarstan, all these concerns turned out to be directly our business... That’s when I saw with my own eyes, felt on my own skin, in what a humiliated position the so-called autonomies were, and everyone else... I had to beg for every penny from the center, almost on my knees, Any decision must be “coordinated”. And this at a time when billions of oil were going to the center, not to mention other deductions. One tenth of these funds would be more than enough to cover the primary needs of the republic. There were times when funds for grain, meat, and butter remained in the republic for literally several days. It got to the point that we agreed to introduce a card system modeled after the war years. There was simply no other way out. It was a forced measure, and our entire country did not escape it. But these “colored pieces of paper” saved many people, especially city dwellers, because they guaranteed at least some minimum of food for everyone. The turbulent times of perestroika radically changed the structure of power both in the center and locally. The balance of power and points of influence were determined differently than just recently. And in order to have a real impact on the situation in the life of one’s people, it was necessary to change the spheres of application of forces - to go first to the legislative, then to the executive branch, then to the party structure, then beyond its boundaries.

The factor of real leadership and informal authority among the masses increasingly came to the fore. M.Sh. has such a reputation. Shaimieva became more and more firmly established and allowed him to continue his career with broad popular support, on new democratic foundations.

I was elected to the People's Deputies of the USSR in the spring of 1989 from my native, one might say, territorial electoral district No. 389. It includes the district where I was born and lived, and another district where I worked for five years at Selkhoztekhnika. It is clear that many people there knew me very well. Nevertheless, I traveled a lot around the district, meeting people. I always have heart-to-heart conversations with ordinary people, together we discuss not only their personal problems, but also republican affairs. In general, I think that for a person going to power or to any leadership position, the most important quality is love for people, the desire to live by their concerns. I understood this from the first days of my work as chief engineer at Muslyumovo and subsequently became more and more convinced of the correctness of this view of life. And in the Menzelinsky district I was accepted as “one of their own,” although at that time I was the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the republic.

However, the pre-election situation turned out to be very difficult. The alternative candidates were strong rivals, and the behind-the-scenes struggle also seemed to be not in favor of M.Sh. Shaimieva. But it was he who won those elections, gaining 74 percent of the vote. And soon there was a new unexpected turn in fate, due precisely to the specifics of the perestroika political situation. The center of real power kept shifting, and in order to maintain the situation in the republic and positively influence it, the most authoritative and energetic leaders were needed now in one area, now in one area, now in one incarnation, now in another.

In the early autumn of 1989, I returned to the Tatar Regional Committee of the CPSU for the third time. This time, as they said then, “the owner,” the first secretary. These were the first alternative elections in the party bodies of the republic. I think that my reputation as a “strong business executive” and, oddly enough, the most ordinary humanity played a big role in the fact that I ended up in this high position... I took the post of first secretary of the regional committee of the CPSU, so to speak, in the second wave of Gorbachev’s perestroika . These were no longer quite Soviet times. The situation in the country was heating up like a frying pan. There was a smell of thunder in the air, lightning was blazing ever closer... No one wanted to live in the old way: neither the lower classes, nor the upper classes. But they had a vague idea of ​​how they should continue to live. And in March 1990, I became a people's deputy of the TASSR. And already in April he was nominated to the position of Chairman of the new Supreme Council of the Republic of Tatarstan. Then, when the party began to fade away, it was the leadership of the Supreme Council that left to me, if not all, then a very significant part of the republican power. The Soviets have ceased to be a decorative screen in the state structure and have taken on the leading roles. This became an essential part of perestroika, which in record time radically changed the essence of both the country's social life and its governing power structures. But life at the everyday level became worse every day. Devastation began in the country: enterprises stopped, shops went like crazy... And so throughout Russia, hunger and impoverishment spread at cosmic speed. Tatarstan had to be saved. This was a turning point in history. The uncertainty of the situation due to the constant shirking of the country's top leaders, now in one direction, now in the other, grew more and more. Institutions of power were disintegrating before our eyes, their powers were being reduced like shagreen leather. It was very important, against the backdrop of general destabilization in the USSR, to try to stop the spread of destructive processes in our republic. A significant and, in my opinion, saving solution could be a real increase in the status of the TASSR to the level of a union republic. And I decided to fight for this, no matter what, at any level of the Union and Russian authorities. The platform for starting such a struggle presented itself very quickly.

And M.Sh. Shaimiev took full advantage of this opportunity. I am, as they say, an “iron” person, self-possessed. But even the strongest metal has its limits. It seems to me that I approached this limit in the summer of 1990. No, life circumstances have never broken me. But at the 28th Congress of the CPSU, which the ideologist of perestroika Alexander Nikolaevich Yakovlev called “the congress of the agonizing party,” I allowed myself to express everything that was boiling in my soul at that time. People's lives were getting worse; the party machine was clearly failing. I really wanted to figure this out eventually.

"The reality is– said M.Sh. in his speech at the congress. Shaimiev, - that the status of a number of autonomous republics, determined back in the 1920s, no longer corresponds to their economic, social, spiritual development, or level of national self-awareness. They could receive the status of allies. But years pass and the situation does not change, causing social tension. Recently, people have started talking more often about equalizing the status of union and autonomous republics, about filling autonomies with new real content, about expanding and even significantly increasing the rights of autonomous entities, but, as they say, things are still there, which confirms the party’s lack of a clear concept in this question. As a result, attempts to flesh out certain declarations are contradictory and inconsistent. For example, the USSR Law “On the Division of Powers between the USSR and the Subjects of the Federation” recognizes the autonomous republics as subjects of the federation - the USSR and prescribes building their relations with the USSR and the Union republics on the basis of agreements and treaties. But it’s not clear how autonomous republics can simultaneously reside in two federations? World civilization does not know such a precedent.” “Only as part of the RSFSR,- he continued further, - There are 16 autonomous republics, covering almost 5 million square kilometers and home to more than 22 million people. But they, these people, do not receive a clear answer to their pressing questions. I consider it necessary to inform the delegates of the congress that in a number of autonomous republics, at the regular sessions of their Supreme Councils before September, declarations of sovereignty may be adopted declaring autonomous Soviet socialist republics. We are aware that the national issue is complex, difficult and its solution requires a thoughtful, balanced approach and statesmanship.”

In a bright and poignant speech by M.Sh. Shaimiev also raised the problems of transition to a regulated market economy. He raised the question of granting the right to regions that extract raw materials of national importance to sell a certain part of them independently at market prices, including for export, and distribute the resulting income between the enterprise and the local budget. Problems of the agro-industrial, defense complexes, and other pain points of economic and political reality, vitally significant for the country as a whole, and especially for his republic, were also identified.

Everything I spoke about then was extremely important at that time for us, for the future sovereignty of the Republic of Tatarstan. I think it was a principled and courageous performance. Even today I am ready to subscribe to every one of his theses.

During the congress, the famous statement of B.N. Yeltsin about his resignation from the party. This moment became memorable for the relationship between the first presidents of Russia and Tatarstan.

Boris Nikolaevich stood up and said that he had nothing more to do here - he was leaving the party. For a moment, deathly silence reigned in the stunned audience. And Yeltsin picked up his constant folder with documents, turned his broad back to the presidium and quickly left the congress. He was followed by Popov and Sobchak, and then by another 54 people's deputies of the RSFSR. Supporters of Gorbachev and his conservative opponents remained in the CPSU. I waited for a break, and then followed Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin to the Supreme Council of the Russian Federation. We had an agreement to meet on this very day. I arrived, they reported me about me, and he immediately received me. Thus, I became the first to visit Yeltsin after his announcement of leaving the CPSU. He met me standing, I didn’t sit down either. Boris Nikolaevich was very upset. I tried to find some words of consolation, to somehow calm him down, to encourage him. He said: “Mintimer Sharipovich, I served this party all my life... Of course, it’s hard for me, but I couldn’t do otherwise. Because everything needs to change in the country – radically!..” It seemed to me that he was really worried and spoke sincerely...

And soon M.Sh. Shaimiev had to make his own choice regarding the party. This choice was very significant for the entire republic. In order to maintain the manageability of the economy and the stability of social and political life, it was necessary to ensure the authority of power structures, their adequacy to the new situation and the mood of the people. By this time, the capabilities of the party system were increasingly exhausted. But in order for things to move towards stability and continuity, and not towards confrontation and aggravation, considerable wisdom and courage were required.

Having realized the situation, I gathered the first secretaries of the district committees, who were not contaminated with any dubious “deeds” of the dying system - at that time it was still a force, extraordinary personalities! He said: it’s time to share power. One person is clearly not able to hold two positions at once - First Secretary and Chairman of the Supreme Council. I spoke about myself first. And then he advised others to realize that since the party power is so rapidly losing its authority, it means that it makes sense for people who have experience and sufficient authority in society to support the Soviets. For example, it is obvious to me that party power is nothing under the conditions of perestroika. She has no more strength. The system breaks down, and the party is nothing more than a brake. Therefore, if we want to continue to remain useful to our people, to support the degenerating country with all our experience and knowledge, then we must move to the Soviets. This will strengthen them, and we will be able to prevent a situation of chaos and confusion in power structures. In general, I say, let's share. Decide who will remain in party work - here I cannot prohibit anyone from doing anything, and whoever wants - let's go to the Soviets. What started here! Some immediately almost accused me of treason. In short, I got it from my colleagues with whom I worked together. But I continued to look them all honestly in the eyes - it was my choice. He repeated: you decide for yourself, but I will no longer be the first secretary. Because the party must be freed from economic affairs, real power must be given to the Soviets. Let the party engage in political activities. After a short period of time, more than seventy percent of our first secretaries of district and city party committees headed local Soviets, freed from party posts. Those who did not renew themselves in time and did not transfer the power in their hands to the Soviets, such people were swept away very quickly like a wave. Then, after several years, many admitted that at that time it was the most reasonable and timely decision on my part. In September 1990, at the 42nd party conference, my request was granted. The first secretary of the regional committee was the former chairman of the Kazan City Executive Committee, Revo Ramazanovich Idiatullin, and the Tatar regional committee of the CPSU was renamed the republican committee. It was a political decision. I resigned from my party position. And thanks to this, I think we managed to do a lot, including retaining personnel in the field.

Events at this time developed rapidly. And the year contained more than other five-year plans. One of the most important for the republic and for M.Sh. Shaimiev's personal events were the adoption in the summer of 1990 of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Tatarstan. This fact not only immediately entered the history of the people of Tatarstan, but also immediately made Mintimer Shaimiev a figure of historical proportions. This happened in very difficult conditions and required M.Sh. Shaimiev of enormous will, wisdom and knowledge.

The beginning of the 90s was a very difficult time for me. I had to learn a lot, as if from scratch. For example, I had to quickly master the technologies of parliamentarism, about which I previously had a very vague idea. It turned out that this is a whole science, or rather, real art. Take, for example, political dialogue. After all, for the first time in the legislative body of the republic, deputy groups and factions arose that had not just different, but sometimes diametrically opposed positions on key problems of the development of the country and Tatarstan. The most intense political discussions, and sometimes outright sabotage of certain deputies within the walls of parliament, required considerable patience from me, who, in the same English manner, was now called the speaker. Fortunately, I possessed this quality to the fullest, but here it was in demand in such a colossal volume that maintaining self-control and at least apparent calm was achieved through great exertion of strength, both mental and physical. In addition, I had to delve into literally everything. And of course, there weren’t enough hours in the day to understand all the intricacies of political, legal, economic, national and cultural problems. But there was no way to retreat, and it’s not in my rules.

Literally after five months of its hectic activity, the Supreme Council of the Republic came to the adoption of the most important historical document for us - the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Tatarstan.This happened on August 30, 1990.

This event was preceded by another striking episode, which also became historical in its own way and determined a lot in the political atmosphere of that time. It was in Kazan that the words of B.N. were heard. Yeltsin about sovereignty, which instantly became a historical aphorism. Behind these words stood a new reality and new approaches to solving long-standing problems.

At the beginning of August of the same hot summer, Boris Nikolaevich Yeltsin, Chairman of the Supreme Council of the RSFSR, came to us in Tatarstan. This was his first trip around the country in his new status. In fact, in two days - from August 6 to 8 - he managed to visit Almetyevsk, Elabuga and Kazan, not counting the regional centers and villages that he came across along the way, and where he tried to look at least “for a minute.” Everywhere - not only in cities, but also in the most remote villages- he heard practically only one thing: “Independence, freedom, sovereignty!” Many then began to criticize Boris Nikolayevich for the phrase he threw out in the heat of the rally and immediately became a catchphrase: “Take as much sovereignty as you can swallow!” They said that these were empty words - they say that Russian democrats then had only nominal power and could promise anything... This is not so. And everything is much more complicated. In fact, Yeltsin’s words immediately took on a decisive meaning - they supported people, strengthened their spirit, and instilled hope. ...It was late when we finally got to the set table. We washed our hands and sat down. I hear Yeltsin sigh heavily, it’s immediately obvious that his soul is heavy. “Mintimer,” that’s how Boris Nikolaevich addressed me then, – I promised people sovereignty, and what are we going to do now? Let me note especially for those who like to simplify everything: Yeltsin talked about this with me before we took a drink. "What we are going to do?" – that’s what he asked. He looks me straight into my eyes and expects the same direct answer from me. I’ll repeat myself, but I’ll say it again: to simplify Yeltsin means not to know him. He always had a keen sense of both people and situations. “We have to think,” I answered. “We must,” Yeltsin sighed. “I understand you,” I say to Yeltsin. “You simply couldn’t talk to people any other way.” But now you see the situation we are in. People need concrete decisions from the leadership - we are obliged to make them... We do not have a Constitution, you have a Constitution that has long been in conflict with reality and which no one respects. That is, we need to start from scratch, we need to come to an agreement. “We must,” Yeltsin sighed again. “Therefore, we have only one thing left,” I say, “to sit down at a common desk and think about the Treaty of Tatarstan with Russia.” It must turn out in such a way that we find answers to the aspirations that concern people, taking into account the historical past. Yeltsin liked my proposal, and he said: “So be it!” His good mood returned. After Yeltsin's departure, the situation in the republic remained quite tense. As before, people held rallies and demanded decisive changes. Some wanted complete sovereignty, even to the point of secession, others said that no sovereignty was needed at all... The draft Declaration was considered at a meeting of the Presidium of the Supreme Council on August 13. Many made amendments. The option of dual subjectivity was also discussed. Then they decided to bring it to the attention of the population of the republic. And finally, at about one in the morning on August 30, we adopted the Declaration. ...Don’t forget how our people rejoiced that night on Freedom Square. Thousands of people supported the decision of the Supreme Council of the Republic with joyful exclamations. As soon as the deputies began to go out into the street, they were picked up by dozens of strong arms and swung as if they had just returned from outer space. Trying to slip through unnoticed, I began to make my way to the official car. But excited people overtook me too, handed me flowers and shook my hand. And everyone tried to pick me up and rock me, but the guys who were with me helped me avoid this “joyful” procedure. The adoption of the Declaration allowed us to take the first important step towards an independent socio-economic policy. To manage the wealth of Tatarstan ourselves in the interests of all our multinational people. And also to build civilized federal relations with the RSFSR and other republics on the basis of mutually beneficial, equal agreements, to conduct a dialogue with the countries of the world without intermediaries. The Declaration contributed to the preservation in the Tatar SSR of the age-old tradition of friendship between peoples, their close cooperation and good neighborliness; it directed the energy of people in a creative direction. I am still proud that our generation had the honor of creating the state foundations of the new Tatarstan. We believed in our independence - I think this is the main result of this historical event. By resolution of the Supreme Council, August 30 was declared a major national holiday - the Day of the Formation of the Tatar SSR.

Activities of M.Sh. By this time Shaimieva had already acquired a new scale. He became a very noticeable and significant figure in the political all-Union arena. His authority quickly spread beyond the borders of the republic. But it was not easy to achieve the implementation of their proposals and ideas.

In December 1990, at the IV Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR, there was an important working moment - amendments were made to the obviously outdated Constitution of the country. Representatives of the union republics demanded maximum independence from the center. Gorbachev frowned: he felt this was a threat to the collapse of the Union and was, of course, not delighted with what was happening. But he himself called the country to democracy, and now he tasted its bitter fruits.

I was waiting for me to finally be allowed to go to the podium and introduce my amendment - about raising the status of autonomy to union republic. Not wait. Voting began on amendments to the USSR Constitution. What to do? Everything was boiling inside me: Gorbachev was clearly ignoring me! He has no time for autonomy; the main thing is to please the union republics. I understood all this and decided to act at my own peril and risk. He stood up and, without asking anyone, walked quickly towards the podium. When I approached, only then did Gorbachev see me. It seemed to me that I jumped up in my chair: “I didn’t give you a word!” - shouts. -Where are you going, Shaimiev?! But there was already a noise in the hall, they saw me - let him speak... But Gorbachev did not want this. “Why,” he asks me, “didn’t you submit your proposal in writing?” “I did,” I answer. “Well, then we’ll look at it first,” Gorbachev said, in the stern voice of a high school teacher. - Go... When he was getting ready to watch: the voting is about to begin!.. - No, - I say, - listen to me... By that time, we had already adopted the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Tatarstan, this fact gave me additional confidence. Gorbachev dramatically threw up his hands, feigned a grimace, as if he didn’t understand something, but I didn’t leave the podium. I didn’t care anymore - let him do whatever he wanted with me. After. And now - I will either say about my own, or... I don’t know, of course, what would have happened if I had not been allowed to speak out, but I was unstoppable. These congresses were then broadcast live on television - I felt the support of many, many people. “Okay,” Gorbachev finally waved his hand. - Speak... And then I made my proposal to amend Article 127 of the USSR Constitution: the autonomous republics should also become full members of the Federation Council of the USSR. It was an article about the Federation Council, a then new body that was becoming almost the main one in the power structure of the USSR. After a short but very specific speech, Gorbachev was forced to put my amendment to a vote. To be honest, I thought it wouldn't work. But the incredible happened: the deputies of the congress, apparently amazed by my pressure and inspired by such unusual persistence for a representative of the region, voted overwhelmingly in favor. Thus, in a matter of seconds, the fateful issue was resolved. Amendments were made to the Constitution of the USSR, which gave the right of legislative initiative to the highest legislative bodies of the autonomous republics.

And on June 12, 1991, in the biography of M.Sh. Shaimiev, the most important line for his professional activity appeared. He became the first President of Tatarstan. The decisive role in the establishment of the post of President of Tatarstan was played by the decision of the Supreme Council of the RSFSR to hold a referendum on the issue of establishing the post of President of the Russian Federation and calling elections for the first President of the Russian Federation.

After much thought, I agreed with the idea of ​​the need for presidential rule in our republic. He considered that presidential rule would give the multinational people of Tatarstan real opportunities to improve their living conditions, primarily because it would strengthen the executive power in the republic. To be honest, many of the troubles in our lives often occur because even the most wonderful decisions are not implemented.

There was another weighty consideration in favor of the institution of the presidency in the republic. The cherished goal of M.Sh. Shaimiev, as a people's leader, was the establishment of the republic as a full-fledged subject. The most important moment of this status should have been the signing of an agreement with Russia. On this path there were many difficult situations, political, legal, and psychological.

The signing of the Union Treaty by Tatarstan independently and directly, as a subject of the USSR, gave us the opportunity to conclude an agreement with the RSFSR on equal terms. Because if the parties are identical to each other, then the agreements between them, as is known, turn out to be strong and beneficial. This also required that the Republic of Tatarstan be headed by a president.

In the presidential elections M.Sh. Shaimiev participated as the undisputed leader of the republic. And there was no alternative to it, either de jure or de facto. But this did not make his victory any less valuable.

On June 12, 1991, I became the President of the Republic of Tatarstan. And on July 4th he took an oath. 1,131,091 people voted for me, which was 70.6 percent of the voters who took part in the elections. It was then that I understood and felt it for myself: if you yourself do not sow the seeds of trust in people’s souls, you will not reap the harvest. After all, I approached uncontested elections through a serious competitive struggle for the mandate of people’s deputy of the USSR and TASSR, the post of Chairman of the Supreme Council of Tatarstan. Yes, they voted for one. But five people were nominated as presidential candidates. Unfortunately, not everyone was able to collect the required number of signatures in their support. And without completing this procedure provided for by the Law on the Election of the President of the Tatar SSR, they were unable to reach the finish line.

In a new capacity, M.Sh. Shaimiev even more persistently took up the work of establishing his version of the sovereignty of the republic. He invariably emphasized that this option does not at all lead to separatism, to separation from Russia, but, on the contrary, helps to strengthen the federal foundations of the state. Particularly important in this sense could be the Novoogaryovsky process, during which the political elite of the USSR developed the principles of new relationships between the subjects of the federation and prepared the Union Treaty.

At the last, final meeting in Novo-Ogarevo, I reaffirmed the intention of the Tatarstan delegation to sign the Union Treaty independently and directly. This time my speech did not cause any special debate. Everyone understood that our persistence was not some kind of stubbornness of Shaimiev as the head of the delegation, but the balanced, collective will of the parliament, which decided to build relations between the former autonomy and Russia on a contractual basis. Finally, the Union Treaty was ready and initialed by almost everyone. Everyone except the head of Ukraine Leonid Makarovich Kravchuk. He referred to the fact that he was not authorized by the All-Ukrainian Rada, the parliament was on vacation - this all happened in the summer, normal people seem to have to rest. However, he left hope of solving this problem. “The Rada will meet, then I will receive powers, and we will decide,” Kravchuk said. And I put my initials under the draft Treaty - I initialed the document, but with the condition that Tatarstan would sign it horizontally along with the union republics. We agreed to meet with Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin on the eve of the signing of the Union Treaty in Moscow - August 19 at 16:00 - and talk again face to face. He called me himself and, knowing my position on the Union Treaty, asked me whether we would remain in our position or would it be necessary to look for some other form of resolving this issue? Like, I have reached an agreement with everyone, but there is no clarity with Tatarstan. So Boris Nikolaevich proposed to meet on August 19 to once again discuss all these issues in detail. He also said that, in addition, he would like to meet with all the leaders of the autonomous republics on the eve of the signing of the Union Treaty. But before this general meeting, he intended to communicate with me separately. Of course, I was not against such a meeting. Of course, he had no intention of giving in. On Sunday evening I took the train and went to Moscow.

The events of August 19, 1991 dramatically changed the plans of M.Sh. Shaimiev, and the situation in the country as a whole. Regional leaders gathered in Moscow faced the threat of complete anarchy and anarchy. Communication with G.E. Burbulis, A.I. Lukyanov, G.I. Yanaev explained little, M.S. Gorbachev was not in Moscow, and B.N. did not appear immediately. Yeltsin. And it would be irresponsible to wait for clarification of the situation far from our territories.

Almost all regional leaders went home that same day. And they began to receive instructions that were absolutely mutually exclusive. Telegrams came from Yanaev with one order, and then from Yeltsin with another, absolutely opposite in essence.I was in Kazan on the evening of August 19, and the next morning the Presidential Council met with us. At this meeting, we decided that we would not take any extraordinary measures related to the requirements of the State Emergency Committee of the USSR. We did not see the need to organize any additional, emergency power structures, although the State Emergency Committee demanded this. And we also did not declare a state of emergency. Legitimately elected authorities and the popularly elected President of Tatarstan operated on the territory of the republic. Therefore, based on the situation, despite the flow of the most contradictory orders from Moscow, we made our informed decisions, guided only by the laws of the USSR and the TSSR.

After the putsch failed, there were attempts to blame M.Sh. Shaimiev in his support. However, they turned out to be completely groundless and dictated only by the desire of some political figures in Moscow to settle scores with the “inconvenient” leader from Kazan. In fact, the actions of M.Sh. Shaimiev during the August crisis were extremely logical and responsible. To keep the situation under control, he took all necessary measures and communicated with the people openly and honestly.

My appeal to the people of Tatarstan played a positive role. What is the key link here? Yes, in that it was a direct call to the citizens of Tatarstan to maintain calm and restraint. And he was heard and understood by the people. Thanks, among other things, to this, the republic avoided any serious social upheavals. At the end of August 1991, speaking at an extraordinary session of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, I most decisively rejected the allegation about the participation of the republic’s leadership in the implementation of illegal decisions of the State Emergency Committee. After all, not a single resolution of this unconstitutional body was officially accepted for execution. Moreover, having assessed the situation as a crisis, we firmly stated that power in the sovereign Republic of Tatarstan belongs to legally elected bodies and a popularly elected president, and we did not create any committee from the State Emergency Committee, as was done in a number of regions. Therefore, it is completely incomprehensible to me, I said, the desire of individuals and the media to incite unhealthy passions in the republic after well-known events. In a number of central newspapers and on the first program of the All-Union Radio, in broadcasts of Russian television, outright distortions of the position of the leadership of the republic were disseminated. This was unacceptable and I said that we strongly protested.

Crisis situations common to the entire state could manifest themselves especially painfully in the conditions of a republic like Tatarstan, where a special approach to interethnic and interfaith problems is needed. Therefore, the price of stability here during the events of August 1991, as in other hot situations of this turbulent period, is doubly high. And the merit of the leader of the republic is unusually significant.

Frankly, what did I fear most in the early 90s? Then there were crowded rallies in the streets and squares, the Tatars demanded independence, and the Russians were seriously worried about what would happen to them. What if in such a situation someone provokes a stabbing or causes an explosion? When I decided to become president, I said that I promised peace and tranquility, that I would respect the interests of all citizens of Tatarstan. And when, after the end of the first presidential term, they asked me: “What have you managed to do over the years, what is the main thing?” - I answered: “Keep your word.” I really fulfilled what I promised the people: suspicion disappeared in the republic, peace and tranquility reigned. Everyone now understands the value of this.

An important milestone in the life of the republic and its president was the 1992 referendum. Participants in the referendum were asked to answer one question: “Do you agree that the Republic of Tatarstan is a sovereign state, a subject of international law, building its relations with the Russian Federation and other republics and states on the basis of equal treaties?”

The date was set - March 21, 1992. Preparations for the referendum were in full swing when the Soviet Union collapsed. The situation, of course, has changed greatly, but this did not force us to abandon our intention. Everything happened as expected: 81.7 percent of the population with voting rights took part in the referendum. 61.4 percent of voters who took part in the voting answered “yes”. It has become quite obvious that the majority of the adult population of Tatarstan supports the course of renewal of their native republic on democratic principles.

Among the former autonomous republics of the Russian Federation, the people of Tatarstan were one of the first to have their say through direct expression of will. The fight for his own version of the sovereignty of Tatarstan was for M.Sh. Shaimieva is integral to the activities to strengthen the economy of the republic, the stability of its socio-political life, and improve the standard of living of the people. Only under these conditions was it possible to achieve real sovereignty. And it was precisely during these difficult years for everyone in the post-Soviet space that he, as the leader of the republic, succeeded in much of what for others became possible only much later. And often the experience of Tatarstan opened up the right paths to success for other regions and for Russia as a whole. So, with the active participation of M.Sh. Shaimiev in Tatarstan, for the first time in Russia, the decree “On the regulation of land relations” came into force, allowing private ownership of land, special forms of “soft entry into the market” were found and introduced, a unique and very effective version of agrarian reform was implemented, many social problems were successfully resolved .

Drawing a line under one of the most difficult periods in the history of new Russia, I can note, not without pride: in those years we made systemic decisions that are now only being implemented at the federal level and elevated to the rank of national policy. However, then, in the early 1990s, it was not easy to foresee much and some steps were taken with great difficulty, resistance and doubts.

A landmark event with very long-term and very serious consequences was the activity of M.Sh. Shaimiev's refusal to sign the Federal Treaty in 1992. Taking such a step, which laid the foundations for a new type of relations between subjects in the state, and at the same time avoiding confrontation, is the great art of politics. It is unlikely that any other regional leader except M.Sh. would have been able to achieve this without complications and losses. Shaimiev in those unique circumstances. So why, in this case, did not Tatarstan sign the Federative Treaty, which Russia offered to all constituent entities, at the end of March 1992?

In fact, we were not the only ones who “distinguished ourselves” - there were also other republics that were not satisfied with certain provisions of this treaty. Chechnya, for example. Bashkortostan also delayed signing this document until the last moment, seeking significant concessions from the Russian leadership. As for us, we have long advocated fundamentally new constitutional and contractual relations with the Russian Federation. We wanted the new Russian Constitution, which was under intense work then, to include a line about our new equal relations. On this occasion, I specifically met with Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin - we once again discussed in detail the problem of the status of our republic. In that conversation, which turned out to be quite lengthy, we touched on many problems related to the Federal Treaty. And I had to explain to Yeltsin once again why Tatarstan did not sign that document. “Initially, we perfectly saw and understood all the fallacy and defectiveness of the Federal Treaty,” I told the President of Russia. “For example, I knew for sure that it wouldn’t work.” In fact, the significance of the Federal Treaty actually turned out to be greatly diminished. If they wanted the Federation to be full-fledged, the treaty would have to immediately work at full power. But not only did it not have the necessary force for this, but it also did not have a mechanism capable of setting the necessary gears in motion. And on November 6, 1992, at 14:28 – this historical moment is celebrated with such precision in Tatarstan – the Supreme Council of the Republic approved the new Constitution of the Republic of Tatarstan. For M.Sh. This became another personal victory for Shaimiev. We have had the great honor and at the same time the responsibility to accept the historical documents of our rapidly renewing Motherland. Every year, on August 30, we celebrate the day of adoption of the Declaration of State Sovereignty - Republic Day. We celebrate it widely. We don’t have another such big holiday. This is a national holiday. And I always see from people’s faces on this day how important it was for our republic to begin building federal relations in this way. After all, our people liked it.

At the federal level, the activities of M.Sh. Shaimieva developed her plot during this period. Quite dramatic, but deeply logical.

In June 1993, a Constitutional Conference was finally convened in Moscow. The question of whether representatives of Tatarstan will participate in its work or not was discussed at a session of the Supreme Council of the republic. It so happened that just at that time I was making official visits to Hungary and Greece. And so, without me, the deputies decided that it was enough for us to humiliate ourselves under the hail of all sorts of reproaches and insults from Russian “advanced” democrats, they say, they still won’t listen to us - and, therefore, we have nothing to do in Moscow, at the meeting of representatives of the republic. They decided by a majority vote not to take part in the Constitutional Conference of the Russian Federation... Having returned from abroad, I was surprised and annoyed by this decision of the Supreme Council. I immediately went to the deputies - the session, fortunately, was still in progress. Right from the start, he spoke sharply in the spirit that this is not how people behave in politics. Is it possible to stay on the sidelines when it directly concerns the fate of Tatarstan, the life of our peoples?! Shamed, in short, and after that the Supreme Council changed its decision.

However, the participation in the Constitutional Conference of the Tatarstan delegation, which was now headed by M.Sh. himself. Shaimiev, it ended in conflict. Fundamental differences could not be overcome. But we were talking about principles in which to give in to M.Sh. Shaimiev did not intend to, because he was sure that his position was beneficial both for the republic and for the entire federation.

Despite all our efforts, the proposals of the Republic of Tatarstan were ignored. A rather strange picture emerged. On the one hand, the contractual process continued to develop between our republic and the Russian Federation, but on the other, the Constitutional Conference refused to take into account the legal position of Tatarstan. Of course, this approach was very unpleasant to me. Many generally recognized rights enshrined in international documents, including those signed by the Russian Federation, were tried not to be included in the draft of the new Constitution of Russia. The procedure of the Constitutional Conference itself was arranged in such a way that it was attended by representatives of different parties, local authorities, entrepreneurs, who by mechanical majority determined how the Tatars, Bashkirs, Chuvashs should live... In such a challenging situation, our delegation had no choice but to suspend its participation in the work of the Constitutional Conference. Someone considered our action to be overly ambitious, but could we have done anything differently? After all, otherwise the people of Tatarstan, and absolutely rightly, would accuse us of abandoning a position based on the Constitution of our republic. Therefore, the best way out of that situation was to get up and leave. After such an act, we no longer had anything to do with the final text of the draft of the new Constitution of the Russian Federation, which, unfortunately, continued not the best traditions of the country with many of its provisions.

Time, sooner or later, proved President M.Sh. right. Shaimieva. And the goals he set for himself turned out to be achievable. In the end, the Treaty between Tatarstan and Russia, which until recently some called a utopia, others an adventure, also became a reality. However, it was M.Sh. Shaimiev ultimately appeared as a realist in this situation, and his position proved to be constructive.

February 15, 1994 for us, Tatarstan residents, is not just the date of the conclusion of the Agreement between the government bodies of Russia and Tatarstan. This is an occasion to once again reflect on the path we have taken to strengthen the status of the republic and reform Russia as a federation. We worked on the Agreement for almost three years. All this time, our relations with Moscow remained uncertain and gave rise to anxiety. It was reinforced by the feeling of general instability in Russia. But by and large, I was calm, because I felt that sooner or later Moscow would understand and appreciate our position, because the question was fateful. And be that as it may, no matter what intrigues were perpetrated against us, this historic day for the people of Tatarstan nevertheless came and immediately became the starting point: we finally signed the most long-awaited document for us. I believe that this was the day of our great victory! Everything happened quite solemnly, in the Moscow Kremlin. True, some thought that it was not fair enough... They say that the Treaty of two sovereign states was being signed, but there were no corresponding flags on the table. And the table itself doesn’t seem to be suitable for this - it’s T-shaped. Yeltsin was at the head, and I was on his right hand, as if he were his first deputy. Many people paid attention to this then. But here I am ready to object: no infringement of my rights, much less my dignity, was felt. If at the time of signing our Treaty there would not have been a Russian Federation with its Constitution, but a Russian Republic, it would be a different matter. And everything was done correctly. And there were flags of both the Russian Federation and Tatarstan. They were in the hall - from the very beginning. We discussed this issue in advance. Details in such situations are important, remembered, and then discussed at length. The official name of the document may seem long to some, but what it is: Treaty of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tatarstan “On the delimitation of areas of jurisdiction and mutual delegation of powers between state authorities of the Russian Federation and state authorities of the Republic of Tatarstan.” The name is the essence. It was immediately clear that our document went beyond the scope of the federal treaty. Work on the Treaty continued in subsequent years in accordance with the new conditions that developed in the country. Attempts by opponents to make this document temporary were unsuccessful. The principles laid down by M.Sh. Shaimiev in building relationships between the subjects of the federation go beyond any conjuncture.

Common sense and historical logic still triumphed. Already in new conditions, in a new round of development of the country, Tatarstan was the only one of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation to promptly raise the issue of concluding a new agreement on the division of powers, since the previously signed agreements between the center and the regions were valid only until October 2005.

We decided to continue the treaty practice and, having developed a new Treaty, presented it to the head of state, who approved it. But the path to signing was again not easy. The event was overly politicized and further consultation and approval was required after the upper house of parliament rejected it. Although our Treaty is an absolutely impeccable constitutional act, because this form of division of powers is provided for in Article 11 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation. It has now been signed and acquired the force of federal law. I am very grateful to the position of the President of the Russian Federation, who, within the framework of the country’s Constitution and strict adherence to its provisions in the conditions of federal and democratic development of Russia, considered it possible to use the contractual form of delimitation of powers. Undoubtedly, this will contribute to further strengthening the integrity of the Russian Federation.

Successful activity of M.Sh. Shaimieva’s work in economic, political, legislative and other spheres brought him international fame. Interest in his unique solutions to many pressing and large-scale problems turned out to be great in many countries around the world and on the part of the world's largest structures. He travels a lot around the world, meets with leading figures in politics, economics, science and culture, and gives lectures and reports at various forums.

In the USA, I had the opportunity to communicate fruitfully not only with political and business circles, but also with the country’s intellectual elite. I consider it a great honor to give a lecture on federalism in Russia at Harvard University, a world center for the study of the most important problems that concern humanity. Interest in our republic in the world began to grow after my lecture at Harvard, especially since the lecture itself was broadcast twice on a special national channel. It turned out that we worked in this way for the image of the republic. I have been convinced many times: the image is strengthened - loans, multimillion-dollar investments, and political recognition come!

It was natural for the people of Tatarstan to re-elect President M.Sh. Shaimiev for new terms on March 24, 1996, and then on March 25, 2001. It seemed quite logical for one of the country’s most authoritative politicians to enter the party-political sphere at the federal level. In 1999 M.Sh. Shaimiev initiated the creation of the “All Russia” movement and led it, later becoming one of the leaders of the united movement, then the “Fatherland - All Russia” (OVR) party; after the merger of the OVR with the Unity party in December 2001, he was elected co-chairman of the Supreme Council of the United Russia party. At the same time, the beginning of party activity of M.Sh. Shaimiev’s new historical turn took place in conditions of a very intense political struggle and serious opposition from influential structures.

Even today I am convinced that the creation of the Fatherland - All Russia bloc in that political situation was a justified step. Despite strong unfounded criticism and completely unfair attacks, we gained more than 13 percent of the votes in the parliamentary elections. Thus, it became clear that if it were not for the OVR faction with its principled centrist position, a monopoly of the left majority would have been established in the State Duma. So we completed our task, I think, with honor. Being one of the leaders of the United Russia party, M.Sh. Shaimiev was involved in the most important processes in the country during the construction of a new political system. At the same time, his experience accumulated within Tatarstan, where many trends developed at an accelerated pace, is in great demand. This phenomenon acquired particular significance when a change occurred in the country at the highest level of government and the time for political and economic reform came. B.N. During one of our meetings, Yeltsin started talking about his successor. It was clear from his behavior that he wanted to tell me his name, but then he refrained and said that we would soon find out about it. I had to leave (it was at his dacha), when suddenly he asked me how I felt about V.V. Putin. I immediately said that I saw him closely only once, when he came to us, as the head of the FSB, to appoint General A.P. Gusev as head of the department for the Republic of Tatarstan. It so happened that V.V. and I Putin then had an open conversation about happening in the country. I quite sincerely told Boris Nikolaevich that V.V. Putin seemed to me a very integral and sincere person. Boris Nikolaevich beamed and said that he was of the same opinion, and we said goodbye warmly.

Relations with the new President of the Russian Federation M.Sh. Shaimiev were very constructive professionally and warmly humanely.

To be honest, I doubted that, having become the acting President of Russia, much less the President, Putin would continue to remain chairman of the organizing committee for the celebration of the 1000th anniversary of Kazan. But he did not abandon the work he once started, he left this “burden” behind him... Moreover, when we had a conversation on this topic, he said that regardless of the outcome of the elections on March 26, he would like to come to Kazan in the summer and hold the next meeting our organizing committee. I still highly appreciate his sincere desire to be involved in a significant event for us. After all, such an act by Vladimir Vladimirovich is nothing more than an expression of great respect for our capital, for the multinational people of Tatarstan. This is also a tribute to Kazan, which is one of the oldest scientific and educational centers in Russia.

On September 1, 2000, in accordance with the Decree of the President of Russia, the State Council of the Russian Federation was formed in the country - an advisory body that “is designed to facilitate the implementation of the powers of the head of state on issues of ensuring the coordinated functioning and interaction of government bodies.” The Chairman of the State Council is the President of Russia. Members of the State Council are the highest officials of the constituent entities of the Federation. To prepare issues for consideration at the State Council, the Presidium of the State Council consisting of seven members was formed. The Presidium also included the President of Tatarstan M.Sh. Shaimi-ev. Prior to this, he was a permanent member of the Federation Council for several years.

On March 9, 2005, in the Moscow Kremlin, I had a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. We talked about a lot of things. About how we finished last year - we managed to achieve good results, and I had something to tell. About the “creak” with which the monetization of social benefits is proceeding, especially since our republic has also switched to the monetization of housing and communal services.

The President asked me: how did you decide to monetize benefits - after all, people took to the streets and scolded the authorities in connection with the replacement of in-kind benefits for travel on transport, provision of medicines? I said that you need to be prepared for certain costs, people at this moment will criticize you for everything without much consideration...

He thought and remarked: perhaps this is wise.

Life justified the correctness of our actions during this period. We also discussed the political situation in our republic – stable and quite predictable. The President of Russia said just that: we are calm for Tatarstan...

As the conversation progressed, we naturally came up with the topic of the near future of our republic. When this issue was raised, Vladimir Vladimirovich noted that he was aware of my intention not to be elected for another term. He further confirmed that the Republic of Tatarstan is working stably, in a creative mode, and therefore he would like me to continue my work.

Together we have thoroughly considered this issue. Particular emphasis was placed on the years 2007–2008, on the fact that they would become very difficult politically.

I’m not very used to changing my decisions, but an extraordinary situation arose - after all, it was an urgent request from the President of Russia!

On the same day, March 9, I officially addressed the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin with the question of granting me the powers of the highest official of the Republic of Tatarstan or refusing. The logic is clear. I used the legislative opportunity to take this step ahead of schedule in order to urgently, without hesitation, begin to form a unified team, taking into account future self-government bodies. It was not about subordination or “tug of war,” but about ensuring the unity of actions of all levels of government in implementing the decisions we make.

The President of the Russian Federation sent a corresponding letter to the Chairman of the State Council of the Republic of Tatarstan. And on March 25, 2005, on the proposal of the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin, the State Council of the Republic of Tatarstan endowed M.Sh. Shaimiev with the powers of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan.

My fifteen-year work at the head of the republic, having received a new official impetus, was continued. Deputies of the State Council of Tatarstan supported the proposal of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin - that in the next five years, in accordance with the Law “On the General Principles of the Organization of Legislative and Executive Bodies of State Power of the Russian Federation,” I would continue my work as President of Tatarstan.

In the same year, the celebration of the 1000th anniversary of the founding of Kazan took place, which, according to the chairman of the State Commission for the celebration of this holiday, President of Russia V.V. Putin, became “an event, without exaggeration, on a global scale.”

Our anniversary has become a good occasion to emphasize the significant role of both Kazan and all of Russia as a whole. And I noted for myself that since the President of Russia attaches special importance to this, it means that such a position is in many ways a reflection of both the domestic and foreign policies of our state. The country truly strives to be open and represented in the world community. Therefore, today Russia is actively pursuing policies based on the concept of a multipolar world: these include efforts aimed at maintaining and deepening integration processes with the CIS countries, and rapprochement with East Asia, China, Japan, India, and Korea.

The anniversary was both a demonstration of the socio-economic capabilities of Tatarstan and the skillful management of the republic by President M.Sh. Shaimiev. A huge number of new buildings, including the launch of the metro, the implementation of a large-scale program to eliminate dilapidated housing, and the solution to a number of difficult social and economic problems were timed to coincide with a significant date. And this became an indicative example of effective work for the whole country, for numerous guests and delegations from all over the world who visited Kazan these days.

Speaking on August 26, 2005 at a gala meeting dedicated to the 1000th anniversary of Kazan, in the renovated Musa Jalil Opera and Ballet Theater, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin began his speech in the Tatar language.

But the words that were especially significant for the President of Tatarstan were spoken in Russian: “The process of building relations between the federal center and the constituent entities of the Federation has once again proven the strength of the historical unity of the Russian multinational nation,” said V.V. Putin. Unity, which is based on genuine folk wisdom. I must especially note here the role of the leadership of Tatarstan. Then, during the difficult period of the early 90s, he managed, through a productive dialogue with the federal center, to achieve the necessary combination of national and regional interests. Mintimer Sharipovich showed wisdom in his time, well done, thank him very much.”

This speech by the head of the Russian state put everything in its place. We can say that, in a sense, the historical rehabilitation of the Tatar people took place, the myth about their ambiguous (often negative) role in the fate of Russia, which humiliated not only them, but also all our peoples, was dispelled, because when they talk about a republic , this applies to all her nationalities. We can truly only be proud of our past and present. Because our land has always united people, ensured harmony and mutual understanding between peoples of different nationalities and different religious affiliations. And the role of Tatarstan as one of the important state-forming republics was especially emphasized in the speech of the President of the Russian Federation. It is important, in my opinion, that this was said publicly, to the whole world, to all of Russia, and with the participation of the leaders of the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, who adopted a special resolution on the millennium of Kazan. We received congratulations from the UN Secretary-General, the Director-General of UNESCO and many other congratulations. This also made us even more responsible from now on.

In 2007, on the eve of the 70th anniversary of M.Sh. Shaimiev, a meeting of the State Council of the Russian Federation was held in Kazan, which was attended by almost all regional leaders headed by Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. The State Council was dedicated to the state of housing construction and housing and communal services in the country. Tatarstan's experience in this matter is generally recognized. And the meeting participants discussed it thoroughly. And the next day, January 20, federal ministers, plenipotentiary representatives of federal districts, leaders of regions of the Russian Federation, leaders of the country and the republic gathered in the Kazan City Hall. In such a solemn atmosphere, the President of Russia presented M.Sh. Shaimiev received the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 1st degree.

“The President of Tatarstan belongs to that category of regional leaders,” said V.V. Putin, who, without any doubt, can and should be classified as politicians and leaders of a national scale. Over the years of work in Tatarstan, Mintimer Sharipovich, you have turned the republic into one of the leading regions of the country, and have gained fame as an authoritative and respected politician. You are valued in Russia, valued for your wisdom, correctness and thoroughness - thoroughness in words and deeds. Actions do not diverge from words, words do not diverge from deeds. This doesn't happen often among politicians. This is inherent in the President of Tatarstan. ...Today in Tatarstan a high level of interfaith and interethnic harmony has been achieved. The republic is developing successfully and is one of the pillars of the Russian economy and an example of a caring, sympathetic attitude towards people. ...It is obvious that this is largely achieved thanks to the clear position of the President of Tatarstan Mintimer Sharipovich Shaimiev. Positions of responsibility, conviction and strong-willed. You never go into the shadows, I have always paid attention to this, you never remain silent and defend your position, even if, at first glance, it is controversial. And you do it openly and honestly. Therefore, people understand you and ultimately support you. And the result is usually positive. I sincerely thank you for your enormous work and high sense of duty. For the fact that you not only feel the rhythm and breath of time, but do everything to ensure that both your native Tatarstan and our entire huge country prosper and are strong, self-sufficient, so that Russia is a strong, great power.”

Speech by President V.V. Putin at the celebration of the hero of the day M.Sh. Shaimieva summed up certain results of the activities of the first president of Tatarstan at an important stage for him and his republic.

In October 2007, Shaimiev headed the regional list of candidates from United Russia in the Republic of Tatarstan in the elections to the State Duma of the Russian Federation of the fifth convocation. After the party's victory in the parliamentary elections held on December 2, 2007, he refused his parliamentary mandate.

January 22, 2010 M.Sh. Shaimiev, who was at the peak of his extraordinary popularity, recused himself from nomination for the post of President of the Republic of Tatarstan for the next term. On March 25, 2010, he transferred the powers of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan to Rustam Nurgalievich Minnikhanov.

April 21, 2010 M.Sh. Shaimiev was appointed State Counselor of the Republic of Tatarstan.

After the resignation of M.Sh. Shaimiev was actively involved in the project to restore the ancient city of Bulgar and the monastic island of Sviyazhsk, for which he created the Republican Fund for the Revival of Historical and Cultural Monuments of Tatarstan while still in his presidential office, and then headed its Board of Trustees. In just over five years, the Renaissance Foundation has collected and invested billions of rubles in the restoration of cultural sites in the republic. The list of donors alone, including thousands of small, medium and large enterprises and tens of thousands of ordinary residents of Tatarstan, other regions of Russia and abroad, now amounts to six full-length volumes.

On January 20, 2017, to an active public figure, State Councilor of the Republic of Tatarstan M.Sh. Shaimiev turned 80 years old. On the eve of the anniversary, President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin and Prime Minister D. A. Medvedev met with Mintimer Shaimiev, thanked him for his joint work in previous years, for his active work in preserving and restoring historical heritage, and presented a gift - a map of ancient Tartaria to the 17th century Dutch cartographer Willem Blaeu.

On April 28, 2017, by decree of the President of the Russian Federation, Mintimer Shaimiev was awarded the title of Hero of Labor of the Russian Federation with the wording “for special labor services to the state and people.”

The activities of this outstanding public and political figure continue.

M.Sh. Shaimiev – Hero of Labor of the Russian Federation, full holder of the Order “For Services to the Fatherland”, awarded the Orders of Lenin, October Revolution, Red Banner of Labor, Friendship of Peoples, “For Services to the Republic of Tatarstan”, “For Services to the Republic of Dagestan”, “Honor” and glory" II degree, (Abkhazia), "Dostyk" I degree, "Duslyk", many medals, Certificate of Honor from the Government of the Russian Federation. In 1997, he was awarded the Order of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Holy Blessed Prince Daniel of Moscow, 1st degree, and in 2005, Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy II awarded M.Sh. Shaimiev received the Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh, 1st degree, which is awarded “for fruitful work to strengthen peace and friendship between peoples.” Chairman of the Council of Muftis of Russia, Mufti of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the European Part of Russia Ravil Hazrat Gainutdin presented him with the highest award of Muslims - the Al-Fakhr Order of Honor, 1st degree. In 2007, during the visit of the Russian President to Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah of this country presented Mintimer Shaimiev, who was part of the Russian delegation, with the King Faisal International Prize for his contribution to the revival of Islamic culture. In 1998, the International Biographical Center of Cambridge (England) awarded him the title “Person of the Year.” In 2001, UNESCO Director-General Koichiro Matsuura awarded him the Avicenna Silver Medal for his great contribution to the preservation of cultural and historical values. In 2005 M.Sh. Shaimiev was awarded the Russia-UNESCO commemorative medal for his personal contribution to cooperation between the Russian Federation and UNESCO. The first president of Tatarstan is an honorary professor at MGIMO University of the Russian Foreign Ministry. He is also a laureate of the State Prize for Peace and Progress of the first President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, laureate of the International Prize of the Tatar People named after Kul Gali (1994); Prize of the Union of Journalists of the Russian Federation “For openness in communication with the press” (1997); national award in the field of development of public relations "Silver Archer", established by the Union of Journalists, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation and the Russian Association of Public Relations (1997); National Theater Award of the Russian Federation “Golden Mask” in the nomination “For support of Russian theatrical art” based on the results of the 1997/98 season; “Russian National Olympus” award in the “President of the Year” category (2001, 2004) and many other public awards. M.Sh. Shaimiev heads the Charity Council of the Republic, created in 2007, declared the Year of Charity in Tatarstan. Over the 19 years of his presidency, Mintimer Shaimiev pursued a consistent policy of introducing sports into the everyday life of Tatarstan citizens; many sports facilities were built: large objects of republican significance, ice palaces, swimming pools and other sports buildings in regional centers and villages. Kazan has often hosted and continues to host international and all-Russian sports competitions. And as a result, Tatarstan athletes achieve high results in many sports. Everyone knows the Tatarstan teams Ak Bars, Rubin, Dynamo-Tattransgaz, Sintez, Unix and others. M. Shaimiev goes to their games regularly. He is actively involved in sports, especially swimming and chess. He loves skiing – both cross-country and alpine. He is also known to be an avid theatergoer. Doesn't miss the premiere performances of Kazan theaters. In recent years, the buildings of many of them have been reconstructed mainly at the expense of the republic. Tatarstan residents consider him the patron of literature and art, as he has always supported and continues to support cultural figures and talented youth. He himself loves poetry, music, and is interested in philosophical works.

Shaimiev Mintimer Sharipovich- President of the Republic of Tatarstan. Mintimer Sharipovich Shaimiev was born on January 20, 1937 in the village of Anyakovo, Aktanysh district of the Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (now the Republic of Tatarstan) into a family of hereditary peasants. In 1959 he graduated from Kazan... ... Encyclopedia of Newsmakers

President of the Republic of Tatarstan; born on January 20, 1937 in the village of Anyakovo, Aktanysh region, Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic; graduated from the Kazan Agricultural Institute with a degree in mechanical engineer; since 1959 he worked as an engineer, chief... ... Large biographical encyclopedia

- (b. 1937), statesman. In 1969, 83 Minister of Water Reclamation of the Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, then 1st Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1983 85 secretary, in 1989 90 1st secretary of the Tatar Regional Committee of the CPSU. In 1985 89... ... encyclopedic Dictionary

Tat. Mintimer Sharip ulı Shaymiev Mintimer Şərip ulı Şəymiev ... Wikipedia

Mintimer Sharipovich Shaimiev tat. Mintimer Sharip ulı Shaymiev Mintimer Şərip ulı Şəymiev ... Wikipedia

Sharipovich (b. 1937) Russian statesman, President of the Republic of Tatarstan (1992). In 1967 69 instructor, deputy head of department of the Tatar Regional Committee of the CPSU. In 1969 83 Minister of Land Reclamation and Water Resources of Tatarstan. In 1983 85... ... Political science. Dictionary.

Shaimiev, Mintimer- State Councilor of the Republic of Tatarstan State Councilor of the Republic of Tatarstan since April 2010, senior adviser to the President of the International Chess Federation Kirsan Ilyumzhinov since January 2011, co-chairman of the Supreme Council of the party ... Encyclopedia of Newsmakers

1969 - 1983 Religion: Islam, Sunni Birth:
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Mintimer Sharipovich Shaimiev(b. January 20, 1937, Anyakovo village, Aktanyshsky district, Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic) - Soviet and Russian statesman and political figure, first President of Tatarstan (from June 12, 1991 to March 25, 2010). State Counselor of Tatarstan since April 26, 2010.

Biography

Mintimer Shaimiev was born into a Tatar family. The surname of his father, Shagisharip Shaimukhametovich (-) comes from the fact that Shaimiev’s grandfather, Shaimukhammat (-) was called Shaimi in the village.

Shaimiev's childhood occurred during the war and post-war years. In 1954, after graduating from school, he entered the Kazan Agricultural Institute. After graduating from the institute, in 1959 he worked as an engineer, then as chief engineer of the Muslyumovo repair and technical station. At the age of 25, he was sent to Menzelinsk to manage the inter-district association “Selkhoztekhnika”.

Under the leadership of Shaimiev, the Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Tatar SSR was adopted, and the Constitution of the Republic of Tatarstan was developed and adopted. At Shaimiev’s initiative, a referendum was held in 1992 on the issue of the state status of the Republic of Tatarstan, during which about 62% of voters voted for Tatarstan to become a sovereign state, “ subject of international law, building its relations with the Russian Federation and other republics and states on the basis of equal treaties". With the active participation of Shaimiev, an Agreement was concluded between Tatarstan and the Russian Federation in 1994. (Boris Yeltsin recalled Shaimiev in this regard: “what help and support he provided when the national question was being resolved! When we were on the verge of general national discord in Russia. After all, the two of us were able to come to an agreement, and immediately all the republics supported it and picked up.")

In August 1991, during the coup attempt, Shaimiev supported the State Emergency Committee.

Under the leadership of Shaimiev, the periodically convened “World Congress of Tatars” was established. He headed the official delegation of the Republic of Tatarstan at the II World Kurultai of the Bashkirs in the city and at other important events of federal and regional significance. Initiator of the "Hague Program".

Mintimer Shaimiev's powers as President of Tatarstan expired on March 25, 2010. On the same day, the inauguration of the second President of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, took place.

Subsequently, Shaimiev occupied the newly established unpaid honorary position of State Advisor of the Republic of Tatarstan, who is a lifelong member of Parliament and the subject of introducing legislative initiatives at the republican level.

In addition, Shaimiev is the initiator of the creation and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Republican Fund for the Revival of Historical and Cultural Monuments of the Republic of Tatarstan. The Foundation is implementing a federal project “Cultural Heritage of Tatarstan: the ancient city of Bolgar and the island city of Sviyazhsk.”

Wife - Shaimieva Sakina Shakirovna (born 1939). Sons - Airat (1962) and Radik (1964), one of the richest businessmen in Tatarstan, co-owners of the TAIF group of companies, each person's fortune, according to Forbes magazine, is more than $1 billion. The sister is the owner of a chain of stores in the eastern part of the republic. Granddaughter - Kamilya, also owns part of TAIF.

He remains the record holder for the longest tenure of the head of a subject of the Russian Federation (6862 days), surpassing, among others, the ex-mayor of Moscow Yuri Luzhkov and the ex-president of Bashkortostan Murtaza Rakhimov.

Awards

• Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 1st class (January 19, 2007) - for outstanding contribution to the strengthening of Russian statehood and the socio-economic development of the republic
• Order of Merit for the Fatherland, II degree (January 17, 1997) - for his great personal contribution to the strengthening and development of Russian statehood, friendship and cooperation between peoples
• Order of Merit for the Fatherland, III degree (February 6, 2010) - for his great contribution to the socio-economic development of the republic and many years of conscientious work
• Order of Merit for the Fatherland, IV degree (January 14, 2014) - for his great contribution to the preparation and holding of the XXVII World Summer Universiade 2013 in Kazan
• Order of Lenin (1966)
• Order of the October Revolution (1976)
• Order of the Red Banner of Labor (1971)
• Order of Friendship of Peoples (1987)
• Medal “In memory of the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg” (2003)
• Medal “In memory of the 1000th anniversary of Kazan” (2005)
• PM award pistol (January 20, 2002)
• award edged weapon - personalized saber “Eastern” (replica of the Iranian saber “shamshir” of the 16th century);
• Order "For Merit to the Republic of Tatarstan" (2010)
• Medal “In commemoration of the production of the three billionth ton of oil in Tatarstan” (2007)
• Order of Honor and Glory, II degree (Abkhazia, 2003) - for significant contribution to strengthening peace and friendly relations in the Caucasus and active assistance and support to Abkhazia
• State Prize for Peace and Progress of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan (2005)
• Al-Fakhr Order of Honor, first class (June 2005)
• King Faisal International Prize (Saudi Arabia) - “for his contribution to the revival of Islamic culture.” (2007)
• Honorary member of the Russian Academy of Arts
• Order of Dostyk, 1st degree (2010).
• Order "Duslyk" (Republic of Tatarstan, 2015)

Encouragements from the President and Government of the Russian Federation

• Certificate of Honor from the President of the Russian Federation (December 12, 2008) - for active participation in the preparation of the draft Constitution of the Russian Federation and great contribution to the development of the democratic foundations of the Russian Federation
• January 27, 2010) - for active participation in the preparation and holding of meetings of the State Council of the Russian Federation
• Gratitude of the President of the Russian Federation (August 25, 2005) - for active participation in the work of the State Council of the Russian Federation
• Gratitude of the President of the Russian Federation (February 19, 2001) - for his great contribution to the strengthening of Russian statehood
• Gratitude of the President of the Russian Federation (August 12, 1996) - for active participation in the organization and conduct of the election campaign of the President of the Russian Federation in 1996 .
• P. A. Stolypin Medal, 1st degree (Government of the Russian Federation, January 20, 2012) - for services in solving strategic problems of the country's socio-economic development
• Certificate of Honor from the Government of the Russian Federation (June 5, 2008) - for high performance in preparing citizens of the Russian Federation for military service, organizing and conducting conscription for military service in 2007
• Certificate of Honor from the Government of the Russian Federation (January 20, 2007) - for great personal contribution to socio-economic development
• Certificate of Honor from the Government of the Russian Federation (January 18, 1997) - for services to the state and many years of conscientious work
• Gratitude from the Government of the Russian Federation (June 6, 2009) - for high performance in preparing citizens of the Russian Federation for military service, organizing and conducting conscription for military service in 2008

Departmental awards and insignia

Awards from non-governmental organizations

Achievements of the Republic of Tatarstan under Shaimiev

In 2010, on the news channel "Russia 24" Mintimer Shaimiev noted that the main result of his presidency he considered a change in attitude towards the people of Tatarstan and the fact that Tatarstan, according to Shaimiev, played a huge role in maintaining the integrity of the Russian Federation during the years of perestroika, was also shown text of the first presidential oath signed by M. Shaimiev

“I SOLEMNLY SWEAR TO FAIRLY SERVE THE PEOPLE OF THE TATAR SSR, TO STRENGTHEN AND PROTECT THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE REPUBLIC OF TATARSTAN, TO STRICTLY FOLLOW THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE TATAR SSR, TO GUARANTEE THE RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF CITIZENS, TO FAIRLY FULFILL THE ASSIGNED I HAVE THE HIGH RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE TATAR SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLIC"

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Notes

2. (German)
3. (German)
6. Kremlin press service,
10. Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of January 19, 2007 No. 43
11. Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of January 17, 1997 No. 7
19. Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated October 22, 2005 No. 1662 “On awarding the State Prize for Peace and Progress to the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.”
37. // news agency REGNUM dated November 12, 2013
39. see entry from 20:45

Predecessor: Usmanov, Gumer Ismagilovich	First Secretary of the Tatar Regional Committee of the CPSU -	Successor: Revo Ramazanovich Idiatullin
Predecessor: -	President of Tatarstan -	Successor: Rustam Nurgalievich Minnikhanov

Links

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Excerpt characterizing Shaimiev, Mintimer Sharipovich

This was her native land. Her future Light World, which she promised Radomir to build. And now she brought her grief and sorrow to her, like a lost child seeking protection, sympathy and peace from her Mother...
Magdalena knew that in order to fulfill Radomir’s order, she had to feel confident, collected and strong. But for now she only lived, isolated in her deepest sorrow, and was lonely to the point of madness...
Without Radomir, her life became empty, worthless and bitter... He now lived somewhere far away, in an unfamiliar and wondrous World, where her soul could not reach... And she missed him so madly, humanly, femininely !.. And no one, unfortunately, could help her with this.
Then we saw her again...
On a high cliff completely overgrown with wildflowers, with her knees pressed to her chest, Magdalena sat alone... She, as had become customary, was seeing off the sunset - another day lived without Radomir... She knew that there would be many more such days and so many. And she knew she would have to get used to it. Despite all the bitterness and emptiness, Magdalena understood well that a long, difficult life lay ahead of her, and she would have to live it alone... Without Radomir. What she couldn’t imagine yet, because he lived everywhere - in every cell of her, in her dreams and wakefulness, in every object that he once touched. It seemed that the entire surrounding space was saturated with the presence of Radomir... And even if she wished, there was no escape from this.
The evening was quiet, calm and warm. Nature, coming to life after the heat of the day, was raging with the smells of heated flowering meadows and pine needles... Magdalena listened to the monotonous sounds of the ordinary forest world - it was surprisingly so simple, and so calm!.. Exhausted by the summer heat, bees buzzed loudly in the neighboring bushes. Even they, the hardworking ones, preferred to get away from the burning rays of the day, and now happily absorbed the invigorating cool of the evening. Feeling human kindness, the tiny colored bird fearlessly sat on Magdalena's warm shoulder and burst into ringing silver trills in gratitude... But Magdalena did not notice this. She was again carried away into the familiar world of her dreams, in which Radomir still lived...
And she remembered him again...
His incredible kindness... His exuberant thirst for Life... His bright, affectionate smile and the piercing gaze of his blue eyes... And his firm confidence in the correctness of his chosen path. I remembered a wonderful, strong man who, while still a child, had already subjugated entire crowds to himself!..
She remembered his affection... The warmth and loyalty of his big heart... All this now lived only in her memory, not succumbing to time, not going into oblivion. All of it lived and... hurt. Sometimes it even seemed to her that just a little more, and she would stop breathing... But the days flew by. And life still went on. She was obliged by the DEBT left by Radomir. Therefore, as much as she could, she did not take her feelings and desires into account.
Her son, Svetodar, whom she missed madly, was in distant Spain with Radan. Magdalena knew it was harder for him... He was still too young to come to terms with such a loss. But she also knew that even with the deepest grief, he would never show his weakness to strangers.
He was the son of Radomir...
And this obliged him to be strong.
Several months passed again.
And so, little by little, as happens even with the most terrible loss, Magdalene began to come to life. Apparently, the right time has come to return to the living...

Having fallen in love with tiny Montsegur, which was the most magical castle in the Valley (since it stood at the “transition point” to other worlds), Magdalene and her daughter soon began to slowly move there. They began to settle into their new, still unfamiliar, House...
And finally, remembering Radomir’s persistent desire, Magdalena little by little began to recruit her first students... This was probably one of the easiest tasks, since every person on this marvelous piece of land was more or less gifted. And almost everyone thirsted for knowledge. Therefore, very soon Magdalene already had several hundred very diligent students. Then this figure grew into a thousand... And very soon the entire Valley of the Magicians was covered by her teachings. And she took as many as possible to take her mind off her bitter thoughts, and was incredibly glad to see how greedily the Occitans were drawn to Knowledge! She knew that Radomir would be heartily happy about this... and she recruited even more people.
- Sorry, North, but how did the Magi agree to this?! After all, they so carefully protect their Knowledge from everyone? How did Vladyko allow this to happen? After all, Magdalene taught everyone, without choosing only the initiates?
– Vladyka never agreed with this, Isidora... Magdalena and Radomir went against his will, revealing this knowledge to people. And I still don’t know which of them was truly right...
– But you saw how greedily the Occitans listened to this Knowledge! And the rest of Europe too! – I exclaimed in surprise.
- Yes... But I also saw something else - how simply they were destroyed... And this means that they were not ready for this.
“But when do you think people will be “ready”?..,” I was indignant. – Or will this never happen?!
– It will happen, my friend... I think. But only when people finally understand that they are able to protect this same Knowledge... - here Sever suddenly smiled like a child. – Magdalena and Radomir lived in the Future, you see... They dreamed of a wonderful One World... A world in which there would be one common Faith, one ruler, one speech... And in spite of everything, they taught... Resisting The Magi... Without obeying the Master... And with all this, well understanding that even their distant great-grandchildren will probably not yet see this wonderful “single” world. They were just fighting... For the light. For knowledge. For the Earth. This was their Life... And they lived it without betraying.
I again plunged into the past, in which this amazing and unique story still lived...
There was only one sad cloud that cast a shadow on Magdalena’s brightening mood - Vesta was deeply suffering from the loss of Radomir, and no amount of “joy” could distract her from this. Having finally learned about what had happened, she completely closed her little heart from the outside world and experienced her loss alone, not even allowing her beloved mother, the bright Magdalene, to see her. So she wandered around all day, restless, not knowing what to do about this terrible misfortune. There was also no brother nearby, with whom Vesta was accustomed to sharing joy and sorrow. Well, she herself was too young to be able to overcome such a heavy grief, which fell like an exorbitant burden on her fragile children’s shoulders. She wildly missed her beloved, the best dad in the world and could not understand where those cruel people who hated him and who killed him came from?.. His cheerful laughter was no longer heard, their wonderful walks were no longer... There was nothing left at all that was connected with their warm and always joyful communication. And Vesta suffered deeply, like an adult... All she had left was her memory. And she wanted to bring him back alive!.. She was still too young to be content with memories!.. Yes, she remembered very well how, curled up in his strong arms, she listened with bated breath to the most amazing stories, catching every word, afraid to miss the most important... And now her wounded heart demanded it all back! Dad was her fabulous idol... Her amazing world, closed from the rest, in which only the two of them lived... And now this world is gone. Evil people took him away, leaving only a deep wound that she herself could not heal.

All the adult friends around Vesta tried their best to dispel her dejected state, but the little girl did not want to open her grieving heart to anyone. The only one who would probably be able to help was Radan. But he was also far away, along with Svetodar.
However, there was one person with Vesta who tried his best to replace her uncle Radan. And this man’s name was Red Simon - a cheerful Knight with bright red hair. His friends called him this harmlessly because of the unusual color of his hair, and Simon was not at all offended. He was funny and cheerful, always ready to help, and this, indeed, reminded him of the absent Radan. And his friends sincerely loved him for this. He was an “outlet” from troubles, of which there were very, very many in the life of the Templars at that time...
The Red Knight patiently came to Vesta, taking her on exciting long walks every day, gradually becoming a true trusted friend to the baby. And even in little Montsegur they soon got used to it. He became a familiar welcome guest there, whom everyone was glad to see, appreciating his unobtrusive, gentle character and always good mood.
And only Magdalena behaved warily with Simon, although she herself probably would not have been able to explain the reason... She rejoiced more than anyone else, seeing Vesta more and more happy, but at the same time, she could not get rid of an incomprehensible feeling of danger, coming from the side of Knight Simon. She knew that she should only feel gratitude to him, but the feeling of anxiety did not go away. Magdalena sincerely tried not to pay attention to her feelings and only rejoice in Vesta’s mood, strongly hoping that over time her daughter’s pain would gradually subside, just as it began to subside in her... And then only deep, bright sadness would remain in her exhausted heart for the departed, kind father... And there will still be memories... Pure and bitter, as sometimes the purest and brightest LIFE is bitter...

Svetodar often wrote messages to his mother, and one of the Knights of the Temple, who guarded him together with Radan in distant Spain, took these messages to the Valley of the Magicians, from where news with the latest news was immediately sent. So they lived, not seeing each other, and could only hope that someday that happy day would come when they would all meet together at least for a moment... But, unfortunately, then they did not yet know that this happy day it will never happen for them...
All these years after the loss of Radomir, Magdalena nurtured a cherished dream in her heart - to someday go to the distant Northern country to see the land of her ancestors and bow there to the house of Radomir... Bow to the land that raised the person dearest to her. She also wanted to take the Key of the Gods there. Because she knew that it would be right... Her native land would save HIM for people much more reliably than she herself was trying to do.
But life ran, as always, too quickly, and Magdalena still had no time left to carry out her plans. And eight years after the death of Radomir, trouble came... Sharply feeling its approach, Magdalena suffered, unable to understand the reason. Even being the strongest Sorceress, she could not see her Fate, no matter how much she wanted it. Her Fate was hidden from her, since she was obliged to live her life fully, no matter how difficult or cruel it was...
- How is it, mother, that all Sorcerers and Sorceresses are closed to their Fate? But why?.. – Anna was indignant.
“I think this is so because we don’t try to change what is destined for us, honey,” I answered not too confidently.
As far as I could remember, from an early age I was outraged by this injustice! Why did we, the Knowers, need such a test? Why couldn’t we get away from him if we knew how?.. But apparently no one was going to answer this to us. This was our Life, and we had to live it the way it was outlined for us by someone. But we could have made her happy so easily if those “above” had allowed us to see our Fate!.. But, unfortunately, I (and even Magdalena!) did not have such an opportunity.
“Also, Magdalene was becoming more and more worried about the unusual rumors that were spreading...” Sever continued. – Strange “Cathars” suddenly began to appear among her students, quietly calling on the others to “bloodless” and “good” teaching. What that meant was that they called to live without struggle and resistance. This was strange, and certainly did not reflect the teachings of Magdalene and Radomir. She felt there was a catch in this, she felt danger, but for some reason she could not meet at least one of the “new” Cathars... Anxiety grew in Magdalena’s soul... Someone really wanted to make the Cathars helpless!.. To sow in their brave doubt in the hearts. But who needed it? Church?.. She knew and remembered how quickly even the strongest and most beautiful powers perished, as soon as they gave up the fight for just a moment, relying on the friendliness of others!.. The world was still too imperfect... And it was necessary to be able to fight for your home, for your beliefs, for your children and even for love. This is why the Magdalene Cathars were warriors from the very beginning, and this was completely in accordance with her teachings. After all, she never created a gathering of humble and helpless “lambs”; on the contrary, Magdalene created a powerful society of Battle Mages, whose purpose was to KNOW, and also to protect their land and those living on it.
That is why the real Cathars, the Knights of the Temple, were courageous and strong people who proudly carried the Great Knowledge of the Immortals.

Seeing my protesting gesture, Sever smiled.
– Don’t be surprised, my friend, as you know, everything on Earth is natural as before - true History is still being rewritten over time, the brightest people are still being reshaped... It was so, and I think it will always be so... That is why, just like from Radomir, from the warlike and proud first (and present!) Qatar, today, unfortunately, only the helpless Teaching of Love, built on self-denial, remains.
– But they really didn’t resist, Sever! They had no right to kill! I read about this in Esclarmonde’s diary!.. And you yourself told me about it.

– No, my friend, Esclarmonde was already one of the “new” Cathars. I will explain to you... Forgive me, I did not reveal to you the true reason for the death of this wonderful people. But I never opened it to anyone. Again, apparently, the “truth” of the old Meteora is telling... It has settled too deeply in me...
Yes, Isidora, Magdalene taught Faith in Goodness, taught Love and Light. But she also taught FIGHT, for the same goodness and light! Like Radomir, she taught perseverance and courage. After all, it was to her that after the death of Radomir, knights from all over Europe of that time strove, since it was in her that they felt Radomir’s brave heart. Do you remember, Isidora, from the very beginning of his life, when he was very young, Radomir called for a fight? Called to fight for the future, for children, for Life?
That is why, the first Knights of the Temple, obeying the will of Magdalene, over the years recruited faithful and reliable help - Occitan warrior knights, and they, in turn, helped them teach ordinary villagers the art of war in case of special need or unexpected disaster. The ranks of the Templars grew rapidly, accepting the willing and worthy into their family. Soon almost all the men from the aristocratic Occitan families belonged to the Temple of Radomir. Those who left for distant countries, at the behest of their families, returned to replenish the brotherhood of the Templars.

Despite their busy lives, the first six Knights of the Temple who came with Magdalene remained her most beloved and most faithful students. Either because they knew Radomir, or for the simple reason that they all lived together for so many years and seemed to have grown into a powerful friendly force, but it was these Templars who were closest to Magdalene’s heart. She shared with them the Knowledge that she did not trust to anyone else.
They were the real Warriors of Radomir...
And they once became the first Perfect Mage of the Valley...
The Perfect ones were excellent warriors and the strongest magicians, Isidora, which made them much stronger than everyone else alive (except for some Magi, of course). Maria trusted them with the lives of her children, trusted herself. And then one day, feeling something was wrong, in order to avoid any trouble, she decided to entrust them with the secret of the Key of the Gods... Which, as it turned out later, was a cruel and irreparable mistake that destroyed the Great Empire of Knowledge and Light a century later... Pure and wonderful Empire of Qatar.
A terrible betrayal (with the help of the church) of one of his close friends, after the brutal death of Magdalene, gradually transformed Qatar, turning strong and proud warriors into defenseless and helpless... Making the Empire of the Sun and Light easily vulnerable and accessible. Well, the church, as usually happened at that time, quietly and calmly continued its dirty work, sending dozens of “new” Cathars to Occitania, “confidingly” whispering to others how wonderful their life would be without murder, how pure they would be without shedding blood their bright souls. And the Cathars listened to the beautiful sounding words, completely forgetting what the Golden Mary once taught them...
After all, for a calm, loving people, such as the Occitans, teaching without bloodshed was much more pleasant. Therefore, after some time, it seemed to them that this was exactly what Magdalene taught. That this would be much more correct. But for some reason, none of them even thought for a minute to think: WHY did they start teaching this openly only after the cruel death of Golden Maria?..
So, over the years, the teaching of Radomir and Magdalena turned into a helpless Great Knowledge, which there was no one to preserve and protect... And the “new” Cathars surrendered, giving themselves, their children, their wives, to the mercy of fire and the church... And they burned Children of Magdalene by the thousands, without resisting, without cursing their executioners. They burned, dreaming of a high and starry world where they would meet their Mary...
- How did this happen, Sever?!.. Tell me if I have the right to do so...
Shaking his head sadly, North continued.
- Oh, this happened incredibly stupidly and offensively, Isidora, so stupidly that sometimes you don’t want to believe it...
Do you remember I told you that Magdalene once initiated the closest Knights of the Temple into the secret of the Key of the Gods? – I nodded. – But then, unfortunately, none of the Knights of the Temple knew that one of them from the very beginning was a protege of the “dark ones”... though without even knowing it.
– But how is this possible, North?! – I was sincerely indignant. – How can a person not feel when he does something bad?
“You can’t fight what you don’t see or understand, can you, Isidora?” – Not paying attention to my indignation, Sever calmly continued. – That’s how he did it – he didn’t see or feel what the “dark ones” had once implanted in his brain, choosing him as their helpless “victim.” And so, when the time needed for the “dark ones” came, the “order” clearly worked, despite the feelings or beliefs of the captured person.
– But they were so strong, the Knights of the Temple! How could someone inject anything into them?!..
– You see, Isidora, being strong and smart is not always enough. Sometimes the “dark ones” find something that simply does not exist in the intended victim. And she, this victim, lives honestly for the time being, until the muck implanted in her works, and until the person becomes an obedient doll in the hands of the “Thinking Dark Ones.” And even when the implantation works, the poor “victim” has not the slightest understanding of what happened... This is a terrible end, Isidora. And I wouldn’t even wish this on my enemies...
“So, what, this knight didn’t know what terrible evil he had done to the others?”
North shook his head.
- No, my friend, he didn’t know until his very last minute. He died like that, believing that he had lived a good and kind life. And he never managed to understand why his friends turned away from him, and why he was expelled from Occitania by them. No matter how hard they try to explain it to him... Do you want to hear how this betrayal happened, my friend?
I just nodded. And the North patiently continued its amazing story...
– When the church, through the same knight, learned that Magdalene was also the Guardian of the Smart Crystal, the “holy fathers” had an irresistible desire to get their hands on this amazing power. And, naturally, the desire to destroy Golden Maria multiplied thousands of times.
According to the superbly calculated plan of the “holy fathers,” on the day Magdalene was supposed to die, the knight who betrayed her was given a letter from the church’s envoy, allegedly written by Magdalene herself. In this ill-fated “message” Magdalene “conjured” the first Knights of the Temple (her closest friends) never to use weapons again (even in defense!), as well as in any other way known to them that could take away someone else’s property. life. Otherwise, the letter said, if they disobey, the Knights of the Temple will lose the Key of the Gods... since they will turn out to be unworthy of it.

It was absurd!!! This was the most deceitful message they had ever heard! But Magdalena was no longer with them... And no one could ask her anything else.
“But couldn’t they communicate with her after death, Sever?” – I was surprised. – As far as I know, many Mages can communicate with the dead?
– Not many, Isidora... Many can see entities after death, but not many can hear them accurately. Only one of Magdalena's friends could communicate freely with her. But it was he who died just a few days after her death. She came to them as an entity, hoping that they would see her and understand... She brought them a sword, trying to show them that they had to fight.
For some time, the opinions of the Perfect Ones weighed in one direction or the other. There were now much more of them, and although the rest (new arrivals) had never heard of the Key of the Gods, the “letter of Magdalene,” in fairness, was read out to them too, omitting the lines that were not intended for their ears.