Evgeniya Dautova: ‘We caught the time when temples were being destroyed; perhaps, it is we who should restore them’
The businesses were called to finance the construction of the Bolgarian Islamic Academy and the Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan
Known in Tatarstan construction companies Gran and Eurostroyholding+ will build the Bolgarian Islamic Academy and the Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan. This became known at the presentation of the projects of these monuments, which took place at the Kazan Kremlin. President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov announced the collection of funds for the construction of objects, for which are invited to participate not only businesses but also citizens. The first who wished were TAIF, Spurt-Bank and KMPO.
Gran will build 'a barrier' in the way of radical Islamic movements
The foundation stone laying of the Bolgarian Islamic Academy will be held on 21 May of this year. On 21 July, the same memorial stone will mark the beginning of the reconstruction of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan. This was reminded by the President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov at an extended session of the Trustee Council of the Regional Fund for the revival of monuments of history and culture of RT.
According to the President of the Republic, the Bolgarian Islamic Academy will be one of the leading Islamic educational centers in the country. 'In the last two decades the international community has faced serious challenges connected with the activation of pseudo-Islamic terrorist organizations, hiding behind religious slogans to solve its geopolitical and economic interests, that is clearly seen in the examples of Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Syria,' said the mufti of Tatarstan Kamil Samigullin. Russian Muslims also get there, mostly — the youth 'in the result of the mad surfing on the Internet on Wahhabi resources' or being trained in foreign Islamic centers.
Samigullin acknowledged that the local centres still do not withstand competition with them and the problem should be solved by the Bolgarian Islamic Academy. Thus, its primary mission is to become separate educational and spiritually-educational center, which would prevent the radicalization of Islam. The decision on the establishment of the Academy was supported by the President of Russia Vladimir Putin.
The designer will be Tatinvestgrazhdanproekt SUE. The contractor will be no less famous in Tatarstan construction company Gran.
'It was Safarov who has chosen the time. My gratitude for that'
Tatinvestgrazhdanproekt has been also entrusted to develop the Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan. Here, the designer did not have to invent anything new: the Cathedral will be an exact copy of the blown up in 1930 building and will be located exactly in the place of the finding of Our Lady of Kazan icon. That is, in the Kazan Virgin Monastery, located right under the Kremlin. The archaeological works have already begun. The general contractor is Eurostroyholding+ PLC, which, according to the documents for the meeting, has successful experience in the implementing of similar projects.
Metropolitan Feofan called the future Cathedral the restoration of historical justice, noting that the Our Lady of Kazan icon is known throughout the country. 'Why is it important the reconstruction of the Cathedral? Because this is the respect and suggests that we not only honor and are tolerant to other religions but also that we are one family,' he solemnly announced. The design of the cathedral has received the blessing of Patriarch Kirill and Feofan hopes that he will arrive at the foundation stone laying. The priest even saw a good sign that the presentation of the projects fell on the strictest day of Easter Lent – on Good Friday. 'The time was chosen by Safarov (head of the Office of the President of RT Asgat Safarov), my gratitude for his right choice. After all, recently he has seriously immersed in religion,' whether as a joke or seriously said Minnikhanov. Anyway, the audience laughed.
'It is impossible to restore the complex well without additional extra-budgetary sources'
The Republic's authorities recognize that amid the crisis two such large construction projects are impossible to implement for the budget bill only. Deputy Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Aleksander Zhuravsky, who also attended the meeting, said that the decision on the allocation of funds for these projects was made in 2010 and Tatarstan has committed itself to finance 50% of the costs.
Tatneft and TAIF are already financing the construction of a hotel in Bolgar. The oilers did not step aside this time again. According to the head of the group of companies TAIF Albert Shigabutdinov, whom Minnikhanov asked to give a speech, the company supports all the undertakings of the Republic and will take 'an active part' in the implementation of projects.
The chairperson of the Board of AKB Spurt JSC Evgeniya Dautova also expressed the readiness to finance the construction. 'The meeting itself touches the soul. I would like to appeal to all, our generation should leave something. It has a great responsibility, we caught the time when the temples were being destroyed, perhaps, it is we who should restore them,' she admitted.
Another sponsor will be KMPO JSC. Its CEO Damir Karimullin reminded that his company has already participated in the restoration of Bolgar and Sviyazhsk. Mintimer Shaimiev will oversee the construction works.
