Today, 16 June, the XVIII Congress of the Republic of Tatarstan Writers Union takes place.

Today, June 16, at the NCC "Kazan" the  XVIII Congress of the Union of Writers of Tatarstan has taken place. The Congress was attended by Chief of Staff of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan  Asgat Safarov, Deputy Chairman of RT State Council, chairman of the Union of RT Rimma Ratnikova, Minister of Culture Airat Sibagatullin, head of the Republican Agency for Press and Mass Communications Airat Zaripov, Deputy of RT State Council Razil Valeev, journalists,  people’s writers, poets, and others.

Asgat Safarov welcomed  the participants of the congress on behalf of President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov. "Of course, the work of writers is the foundation of culture. This  is a  bridge, which connects the spiritual heritage of the past with the future generation. Literature helps to preserve human values ​​", - said the head of the Office of the President and added that Congress is taking place in the 130 year anniversary of the great poet Gabdulla Tukai. "In our republic, the Writers' Union - is one of the main non-governmental organizations. You are making a positive contribution to the social and cultural life of the republic ", -  Asgat  Safarov said,  and emphasized the role of writers in the preservation and development of language. At the end of his speech he wished success to the participants of the congress.

In turn, Deputy Chairman of RT State Council Rimma Ratnikova welcomed the participants on behalf of the  charman  of RT  State Council Farid Mukhametshin. She handed a letter of gratitude of RT State Council Chairman to Liron Khamidullin for long-term work in the preservation of culture and productive activities.

Minister of Culture Airat Sibagatullin has  awarded literary award of the Ministry of Culture and the Union of Writers for literary achievements,  For literary achievements and his  book "Conversations with Tukai"  Zinnur Mansurov has been awarded. This award is also has been handed over  to  Taufik Aidi for  series of books published by the publishing house "Avaz". The book describes the life of our compatriots in 1999-2000.

For literary achievements, the book "Garaba" and the cycle of poems, published in the journal «Kazan Utlary" poet Sania Akhmetzyanova has been  awarded the prize after Kh. Taktash, The award after F.Khusni has been presented to the writeri Waqif Nurullin for literary achievements and the book "He was supposed to live."

For active   working  in the field of literary criticism and critical articles in 2015 writer Aydar Khalim has received award  after Dzh. Validi. For contribution to the development of literature, the badges of the Ministry of Culture were awarded novelist and translator Rustam Sabirov, Margarita Nebolsina. Journalist,   the writer Airat Bik-Bulatov was awarded an honorary diploma of the Ministry of Culture.

Deputy Chairman of the Executive Committee of the International Union of Public Associations "World Congress of Tatars" Damir Gismetdinov awarded the Medal of the Republic of Tatarstan "For valorous work" - for his great contribution to the preservation and development of national culture, longstanding social activities.

On the agenda were  the  issues of amending the Charter of the Union of writers of the Republic of Tatarstan and the election of the Chairman of the Writers' Union of the Republic of Tatarstan.

Initially, the post of Chairman of the  were proposed candidates  Rafis Kurban, who   has held this position for the past four years, as well as Danil Salikhov, Rifat Salah, Ilfak Ibragimov and Rkaila Zaydulla. New chairman has been elected by secret ballot.

Today, the new chairman of the organization   has been  elected, who  will lead it  next four years. The candidacy of Daniel Salikhov  has won 132 votes out of 231.

Press service of the Ministry of Culture, based on materials of IA "Tatar-Inform"