Mintimer Shaimiev and His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV visited the ancient city of Bolgar

Today, His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV and the State Counselor of the Republic of Tatarstan, Chairman of the Republican Renaissance Fund Mintimer Shaimiev made a trip to the Bulgarian historical and archaeological complex.

They were accompanied by  Head of the Federal Agency for CIS Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo) Eleonora Mitrofanova, former UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan Vasil Shaykhraziev, Executive Director of the Republican Renaissance Foundation Tatyana Larionova , Minister of Culture of the Republic of Tatarstan Irada Ayupova, Head of the Spassky District of the Republic of Tatarstan Kamil Nugaev, Director of the Bulgarian State Historical and Architectural Museum-Reserve Farhat Mukhametov and other officials.

His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV arrived in Tatarstan to present the 2019 Aga Khan International Prize in Architecture. The award ceremony will be held tomorrow in the building of the Tatar Academic State Opera and Ballet Theater named after M. Jalil. One of the prizes was awarded to the Tatarstan project: Program for the Development of Public Spaces of the Republic.

Upon arrival on Bolgarian land, Mintimer Shaimiev invited His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV to see the complex of the Bulgarian Islamic Academy, in which the third academic year began in September this year. The rector of the Bulgarian Islamic Academy Daniyal Abdrakhmanov acquainted the guests with the current activities of the academy. Mintimer Shaimiev told His Highness about the important mission of the Bolgarian Academy, which is the highest link in the revived Islamic education system in Russia, and is preparing the intellectual elite of the country's Muslim ummah - masters and doctors of Islamic theology.

Mintimer Shaimiev and His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV visited the classroom and talked with students. Then, in the multifunctional hall - the amphitheater of the Academy, the cancellation ceremony of the special postage stamp “International Aga Khan Prize in Architecture 2019” was held. In total, 150 thousand copies of the brand will be issued.

In his welcoming speech, Mintimer Shaimiev thanked the distinguished guest for his visit to Tatarstan. “Thank you so much for reaching these lands and showing great respect for our people, our believers, the Russian Federation, and all of us,” he said.

Mintimer Shaimiev noted that such significant events as the presentation of the International Prize are perpetuated through the creation and redemption of special stamps and thanked everyone whose efforts made this possible.

“It is a great honor for me to be here and with all my heart to welcome all those gathered for this ceremony. I want to say that it is very important to preserve the values ​​of the religion you profess. I am happy to take part in this cancellation ceremony of a postage stamp, which contributes to the spread of world peace, ”said Prince Karim Aga Khan IV.

Then the guests visited the complex of the White Mosque and took a tour of the Bulgarian historical and archaeological complex. They visited the Museum of Bulgarian Civilization, examined in the Memorial Sign in honor of the adoption of Islam by the Volga Bulgars the largest printed Quran in the world.