On 28 December the Rais (Head) of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov handed in the State Counselor of the republic Mintimer Shaimiev the Letter of Appreciation from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

On 20 December at his meeting with the Director General of the Grid Company of the republic Ilshat Fairdieyv in the Kazan Kremlin on the eve of the Day of the Energy Worker, Tatarstan State Counselor Mintimer Shaimiev congratulated him not only with the holiday but also with 25th years of his work in the energy system of the republic.

On December 9, the State Counselor of Tatarstan, the Hero of Labour of Russia Mintimer Shaimiev congratulated Tatarstan residents on the Heroes of the Fatherland Day.

On 28 November in the Kazan Kremlin the Tatarstan State Counselor Mintimer Shaimiev had a meeting with the First President of the Republic of Ingushetia, the Hero of the Soviet Union, the Russian state, military and public leader Ruslan Aushev.