Gabdulla Tukai State Prize award ceremony has been held in Kazan

Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev presented the RT Gabdulla Tukai State Prize on the Day of the Republic of Tatarstan, August 30th.

The award ceremony was also attended by Tatarstan State Cucil Chairman Farid Mukhametshin, RT Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Culture ZIlya Valeyeva and Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin.

Hundreds of citizens of Kazan and guests of the capital gathered on the square before the Galiasgar Kamal Theatre to see the ceremony. Although the names of laureates of the Gabdulla Tukai Prize were announced on April 26th, on the holiday of poetry dedicated to the 123rd anniversary of the Tatar poet Gabdulla Tukai, many people wanted to see and listen to the prominent cultural figures of the republic.

The ceremony started with Mintimer Shaimiev’s congratulations. He remembered that the Declaration of the State Sovereignty of the Republic of Tatarstan had been adopted by the Supreme Council nineteen years ago. “Since that day, we have been taking great responsibility upon ourselves. But these years have shown that we’re a mature, friendly, laborious and gifted people. The fact that we preserve interethnic peace, agreement, create and show the example to the whole world is our merit. Thank you for that from all my heart,” the President declared.