Rustam Minnikhanov hands in awards for contribution to development of civil society institutions in Tatarstan

On October 14, in the Kazan Kremlin, Tatarstan President Rutam Minnikhanov took part in a ceremony of awarding honorary signs and diplomas to laureates of Tatarstan Presidential award for the contribution to the development of civil society institutions.

"It is symbolic that we are handing in the award, established two years ago, for the contribution to the development of civil society institutions, on the day when the decision to create the Civic Chamber of Tatarstan was made. Russian President Vladimir Putin attaches great importance to state support for the development of civil society. The initiatives to admit non-profit organizations to the market of state services are aimed at this, the procedure for consideration and allocation of presidential grants is simplified. And these efforts are being unconditionally supported by the public," Minnikhanov said in his welcoming speech.

Minnikhanov continued that Tatarstan is the leader among the regions of the Volga Federal District in the number and efforts of non-profit organizations. The republic is doing its utmost to improve the efficiency of non-profit organizations, including state programmes, grants and resource centres. The presidential award is another important form of support for the most active organizations. Five of 74 applicants have been awarded this year.

Minnikhanov handed in two awards, 250,000 roubles each, to Professor of the Criminal Law Department of the Kazan Institute of Economics, Management and Law and the author of the concept of the project “The University of Non-Profit Organizations” Igor Bikeyev, who was one of the initiators of the revival of student public activity in the republic, and Director of the charity fund "Ak Bars Sozidaniye" Alfiya Valiyeva.

Three more presidential awards, 400,000 roubles each, were given to such organizations as Sozvezdie-Yoldyzlyk, the Regional Public Foundation of the World Congress of Tatars and the Tatarstan Branch of the All-Russian Public Organization “Russian Geographical Society”.