Way to the history through Bolgar and Sviyazhsk
The TAIF Group of Companies invests over 190 million rubles to renew an ensemble of rural locality situated on island
Tatarstan pursues the active policy of boosting the touristic attractiveness, and the main units of promotion are Bolgar and Sviyazhsk. For five years, the ancient town and the island have obtained new statutes and became the main points of interest in Tatarstan owing to the Renascence Foundation. Many largest companies were engaged in that large-scale renascence, and TAIF was among them. This issue of the special project TAIF-25 dedicated to the anniversary of the company tells how the foundation managed to increase tourist flow to religious loci and shows the role of the multisectoral holding in the restoration of the cultural heritage.
Island of disobedience and archaeological digs outside the window
Sviyazhsk was a 'cell' during many years surrounded by quite gloomy establishments: juvenile colony, psychiatric ward and political prisons. Sviyazhsk was one of the first places in the country of the Soviet political repressions. Here one Red Army man in ten was executed by a firing squad, according to the order given by military commissar of the Bolshevik government. A juvenile labour commune was created 10 years later in Uspenskiy Monastery in Sviyazhsk; subsequently, it was converted into a penal colony. During the period of 1937-1948, 5,000 convicts died in the colony that wasn't penal any more. Then a psychiatric ward was situated in the monastery.
Many years later the island continued its isolated existence. In the 21st century, a century of technologies and knowledge-intensive industries residents of Sviyazhsk didn't have gas, nor energy, nor gas. Most of the houses were unfit to live in, so some people lived in monastic cells, abandoned brethren's buildings of Ivanovsky Convent (Ioann Predchensky's Monastery) in which in winter water turned into ice because of the absence of heating system. The situation was a little better in Bolgar where people lived in ramshackle houses on the territory of archaeological digs. The Reconstruction of Bolgar, a place located on the Volga River and where Islam was adopted in 922, and Sviyazhsk, the first Orthodox town in Middle Volga Region where ancient temples and architectural monuments are situated, started by the construction of houses and provision of communications.
19 blocks of flats and 2 individual dwelling houses equal to 88 flats were built for the residents in Sviyazhsk. It shows how the programme of the republic on rehousing from tumbledown buildings works. An unfit house with a 19th-century portico is a monument of republican significance and home for three families at the same time. They were rehoused to a triplex building, which was constructed by Gran company. the families who lived on the territory of the Museum-Reserve of Bolgar were given houses in new residential settlements in the suburbs of the town. For the period of 2010-2014, a hundred of families were rehoused, 88 houses were demolished from the place of archaeological digs of the Museum-Reserve of Bolgar. This year it is planned to re-settle 6 families more.
Infrastructures and communications were created on the territories of Bolgar and Sviyazhsk: roads, gasification, sewage works, sustainable heat and energy supply that practically didn't exist there before. At the same time, the reconstruction of the historic establishments, cultural monuments, Orthodox temples and erection of new buildings were actively carried out.
Undoubtedly, these great projects require a serious financing. Mintimer Shaimiev, the first President of the republic, personally negotiated with the federal centre about parity financing. The schemes, which were set 5 years ago, are followed today: both federal and republican budget appropriates 400m rubles annually. Charitable contributions and donations are added to that sum.
The Renascence Foundation of the republic accumulated all efforts and resources. The foundation was established by the first President of Tatarstan who personally undertook the reconstruction of monuments of Islamic and Orthodox cultures. And within a short period of time, which is 5 years, they managed to do an unprecedented plenty of work. Tens of buildings in a dilapidated and sad state were restored and reconstructed. One of the main events and results of the work fulfilled by the foundation was including Bolgar to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
'Renaissance'
A huge contribution to the renewal is being made by investors in the person of large enterprises, business structures of the republic and the country that accepted liabilities for reconstruction of historic sites, took measures to create infrastructures and communications and improve living conditions for the local people. TAIF PJSC is among that large investors of the project.
In Mintimer Shaimiev's opinion, participation in similar projects on the preservation of cultural heritage is a dignified way to the history. On the one hand, working with historians, archaeologists, and restorers, the representatives of the companies master their knowledge of the history of their native heath. On the other hand, their noble acts is a history in itself for the reason that every reconstructed building has a list of companies-investors and their directors' names. What is more, the name of each investor is written in the memorable Book of Benefactors. The results of the collaboration are already obvious. For these 5 years, tourist flow to Bolgar increased over 5,5 times (50,000 tourists in 2010, 285,285 – in 2014) and to Sviyazhsk 18,2 times (10,000 tourists in 2019 and 182,222 – in 2014).
Realnoe Vremya asked Mintimer Shaimiev to tell about the participation of TAIF PJSC in the renewal of Bolgar and Sviyazhsk. 'TAIF is a result of the effective work of the united team of like-minded persons who for a relatively short period of time created a market structure of management and applied modern technologies attracting multi-billion investments. They realize projects one after another related to deep oil conversion, petrochemical product differentiation and upgrade of quality headed by smart, strict and experienced Albert Shigabutdinov, skilled and respected Vladimir Busygin, and directors of factories and unions. The most important detail is that they are self-confident, their Russian and foreign colleagues trust them. TAIF is a group of companies, the directors and the collective of which remember, know and appreciate the history of their people. I should mention that TAIF PJSC is involved in the realization of a project called Cultural Heritage of Tatarstan: the ancient town of Bolgar and insular town of Sviyazhsk were among first participants in June 2010. The GC fulfilled works mainly in the insular town of Sviyazhsk. In May 2011, a complex of state buildings of the late 19th and the early 20th centuries was restored by means of their own funds and efforts.' It's necessary to specify that the complex of state buildings includes Treasury, Public Offices, prison and its service rooms, hospital and banya (Russian sauna). The turnkey reconstruction was planned with further creation of the exhibition of the State Historical-Architectural Museum of Art called Insular Town of Sviyazhsk.
The specialists of the GC reconstructed the aspect of the complex using the system of the closed courtyard, recreated the lost parts of brick walling with gates, equipped with utility networks and communications, landscaped, planted trees and gardens on the territory of the complex. The site wasn't easy. The workers had to underpin the foundation and brace the walls. The Group of Companies invested 140m rubles in the reconstruction of the complex. A hard work was done using the funds: eight non-restorable constructions were dismantled, roof constructions, roofing, intermediate floor, walls, partitions and ceilings were replaced. Gas-fired boilers were put into operation, exterior insulated pipes were installed, and the whole building was completely provided with heating.
The complex almost didn't correspond to its original aspect because the constructions were left in ruins. Actually, after the examination of the state of the establishment planners offered to lay monolith. But the historians didn't agree. Although they managed to preserve the historical dimensions, floors and constructions. The ancient beams and double floor were reproduced with no difference with the original versions. Even the gloomy aspect of the prison of the pre-Soviet era was preserved.
The digs held in Sviyazhsk during the year in 2010 allowed to find a great deal of archaeological goods. This is why in spring of 2011 in the head building of the complex TAIF opened an exhibition called 'The mystery of Sviyazhsk soil.' Silver and copper coins during the rule of Ivan the Terrible IV, copper plate, earthenware, including a very interesting aquamanile, spouts of similar vessels which have a form of different animals were showed on the exhibition. The archaeologists note that the unique forms of the earthenware prove a well-organized local pottery production.
The Renascence Foundation opened a Museum of History of Sviyazhsk in buildings of the complex also due to a 50m rubles contribution made by TAIF PJSC. Special exhibition and display equipment, and multimedia outfit were purchased and installed; exposition materials were created in order to equip the museum.
Investment in history
Rustam Minnikhanov, the President of the republic, and Mintimer Shaimiev, state counsellor, highly estimated the quality of the renewal and reconstruction of the establishment. 'This architectural monument should be maintained for everyone. Our children should know their history, see and respect it. Albert Shigabutdinov was awarded a letter of appreciation of the President of Tatarstan for active assistance in the reconstruction of the historical aspect of Sviyazhsk and restoration of ruined complex of state buildings, said the President. 'It was a unique chance for us to approach the priceless historical property and make a contribution to the renascence of the historical and architectural monument. And now looking at the restored complex of state buildings it's a pleasure for us to realize that in the architectural ensemble of the renewing insular town of Sviyazhsk there is a part of our soul.'
Albert Shigabutdinov says that, 'It was a unique chance for us to approach to the priceless historical property and make a contribution to the renascence of the historical and archaeological monument'.
At present, TAIF PJSC with Tatneft PJSC finance the construction of a hotel with a bath complex in Bolgar, the analogue of historical White House (XIV c.) situated in Bolgar. Mintimer Shaimiev notes that tourist flow is growing. People come from different parts of the country to see our Islamic locus, there are many foreigners as well. It is practically impossible to see all the monuments and acquaint with the history of ancient Bolgar in a day. So, the creation of the hotel complex was dictated by the time'.
The hotel with a bath complex will accommodate up to 300 people, there will be a restaurant, spa and gym, swimming pool, conference hall, meeting room and space for kids. It is planned to create a walking area, cycle route, tennis pitch, playground, underground parking and many other conveniences. In a word, there is everything for good rest when one comes to visit the historical and archaeological complex.
'The activity of TAIF GC regarding the preservation of cultural and historical heritage deals not only with the renewal of historical and cultural sites, it's quite wide and versatile,' tellsthe creator and main ideologist of the Renascence Foundation. 'For instance, a number of publications about our heritage saw the light owing to the financial support provided by TAIF. These materials are a cultural heritage in itself. The publications include a wonderful album called Treasures of the Republic of Tatarstan representing collections of the National Museum of the Republic of Tatarstan and unique books like 'Kazan Kremlin. White-stone symbol of Tatarstan' about sights of the modern Kazan Kremlin, 'The Republic of Tatarstan. Fascinating journey' is a richly illustrated book that tells about points of interest of all districts of the republic in Russian, Tatar, Arabic and English. A colourful album containing unique historical patterns of Tatar national costumes and other things is about to appear soon'.
All in all the TAIF holding celebrates its 25th anniversary not only as a successful company that contributes a lot to the economy of the republic and the country but as a reliable big benefactor that follows the principle 'from the soul and for the soul'.
Photo: press centre of TAIF PJSC