Mintimer Shaimiev takes part in 15th anniversary festival of Tatar pop songs “Tatar zhyry-2014”

On December 20, Tatarstan State Counsellor Mintimer Shaimiev, Minister of Culture Airat Sibagatullin, and other officials of the republic took part in the 15th anniversary annual international festival of Tatar pop songs “Tatar zhyry-2014” that has been held since 1999. The festival is organized by the Innovative business center “Bars Media”, radio station “Tatar radiosy”, and TV channel “TatMuzTV”.

The statuette “Altyn Bars” is the official award of the festival. For 15 years the statuettes have been handed to 290 performers and musical bands.

Speaking at the event, Mintimer Shaimiev thanked executives of “Bars Media” Kamil and Marat Garaev, who founded the movement “Tatar zhyry” at the time when showing business and creative abilities of Tatar people became possible.

“We are holding the festival for the 15th time, and it means we have achieved certain success in it. Our songs are our heritage that we preserve and develop together. Tatars living in other regions of the country perform on this stage as well,” Shaimiev said.

Mintimer Shaimiev presented the staff of “Bars Media” with the letter of gratitude of Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov, and the Board Chairman Marat Garaev with the honourable title “Honoured cultural worker of the Republic of Tatarstan”.

Kamil Garaev, in his turn, thanked the audience, artists and sponsors for their attention and support of the festival.