Rustam Minnikhanov welcomes participants of XXV Federal Sabantuy in Yakutsk

On 14 June the Rais (Head) of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov and the Head of the Sakha Republic Aysen Nikolayev took part in the XXV Federal Sabantuy held in Yakutsk with participation of representatives of Tatar public organizations from 29 regions of Russia. The Minister of Culture of Tatarstan Irada Ayupova, the Deputy Prime Minister of the republic Vasil Shaykhraziev, who is also the Chairman of the National Council of the World Tatar Congress and other officials from Tatarstan also took part in festivities

Welcoming participants of the event after having walked round Sabantuy sites, Rustam Minnikhanov attracted attention to the fact that it is the 25th federal Sabantuy and “it is symbolic that it is held on the land of our brothers, good Turk friends from the Sakha Republic.”

There are national Tatar pubic organizations and the Tatar Cultural Center Tugan Yak (Native land) in Yakutia and there is Kazan public garden and the bust of the Tatar poet-hero Musa Jalil in Yakutsk and, addressing the Head of the Sakha, Rustam Minnikhanov said: “I would like to sincerely thank you, Aysen (Sergeevich), for your attention to the issues of supporting the national identity of the Tatar population of the republic. I am sure today’s Sabantuy will facilitate the establishment of close relations of local Tatars with our compatriots from Siberia and the Far East regions.”

In his turn Aysen Nikolayev stated that there is a multi-century bond between peoples of Yakutia and Tatarstan based on common languages, cultures and historical heritage.

 “Tatars have been living here for nearly 400 years in a multi-ethnic environment of people who develop our republic,” he added.

In conclusion of the welcoming ceremony Rustam Minnikhanov handed in Tatarstan state awards to the most outstanding representatives of the community, including active members of the Tatar Cultural Center Tugan Yak

The programme of the XXV Federal Sabantuy included arts and crafts master classes, sport competitions, traditional competitions and Koresh mortal arts competitions, days of Tatar cinema, theatre performances, round tables and the site of the Tatar Homestead.

Since 2001 by the initiative of the World Tatar Congress Executive Committee, Sabantuy is held as a federal holiday with participation of regional Tatar public organizations of Russia and leadership of Tatarstan and regions where Sabantuy is held.

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According to the All-Russia census of 2020 the number of Tatars in the Sakha Republic is 4 262 people making them the sixth among other ethnicities living in the republic.