Address from the Rais of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov on occasion of the Day of the Russian Language and the 224th birthday of Aleksandr Pushkin

On 6 June in his address on occasion of the Day of the Russian Language and the 224th birthday of A. Pushkin, the Rais (Head) of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov congratulated Tatarstan residents with the Day of the Russian Language which is traditionally celebrated on birthday of the Great Russian poet Aleksandr Pushkin.

He continued in his address: “The genius deserved the credit of widely opening the versatility and lyricism of Russian language, carefully preserving its imagery and original beauty. Bright and concise expressions and figures of common speech and original folklore are finely embodied into high literary forms.

It is noteworthy that Aleksandr Pushkin was inspired by the richness of spiritual heritage of many ethnicities of the country and studied the fine grain of it. It is not by chance that Pushkin’s creative work is in tune with traditions of ethnicities of Russia and is filled with love to the common Fatherland and respect and veneration of ancestors. In the year of national cultures and traditions held in Tatarstan we with deep respect underline this specificity of his multifaceted creative work.

The following lines by A. Pushkin gain a special meaning in current times: “I swear on honor that by no means would I want to change my Fatherland or have other history than the history of our ancestors as it has been given to us by God.” We are proud of the richest cultural heritage of people of Russia, the glorious history of our forefathers and must be their worthy heritors.

Today Russian language legitimately occupies an important place in various spheres of international communication and serves the solidarity of the “Russian world”. It serves as the most important means of inter-ethnic communication, better understanding and learning each other which facilitates preservations and strengthening of peace and concord between ethnicities of our Motherland.”

In conclusion Rustam Minnikhanov wished residents of the republic good health, heavenly thoughts and good deeds.