Rustam Minnikhanov: Musa Jalil is the hero both for Tatarstan and the whole country

24.06.2020

On June 24, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov and Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin took part in a solemn event to meet the Aeroflot aircraft named in honor of the great Tatar poet, Hero of the Soviet Union Musa Jalil landed at Kazan International Airport.

“Musa Jalil is the hero both for Tatarstan and the whole country. The memory of his achievement must live forever. Today, on June 24, like 75 years ago, we held the Parade of Winners. It is very important that the aircraft arrived in Kazan on such a day. This is our pride. We are very grateful to our federal colleagues and Aeroflot management for supporting our proposal,” Minnikhanov emphasized.

The aircraft performed a flight from Moscow to Kazan. Aide to the President of Russia Igor Levitin, Deputy Director General - Flight Director of Aeroflot Igor Chalik and also the Tatar poet’s family, Inlucding a daughter, a granddaughter and great-grandchildren were onboard the plane among its first passengers.

Musa Jalil's daughter Chulpan Zalilova said that a lot of things connected the classic Tatar literature with Kazan. The poet studied and worked in the capital of Tatarstan and was off at the front. “We are filled with pride and joy that the aircraft of such extraordinary beauty bears the name of my father. In 1942, he wrote in his diary that he was not afraid of death, that there was life after death when you remained in the memory of the people. If you do something immortal, then they will write about you, print portraits. And here not only portraits, but such a beautiful plane bears his name,” Zalilova said.

It was Tatarstan President, who took the initiative to assign the name of Musa Jalil to one of Aeroflot aircraft.  The Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation and the airline management supported the idea. Airbus A320 family aircraft was named after the poet.


Tatarstan President's Press Office, Bulat Nizamiev