MOSCOW (Realist English). Oleg Morozov, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Control and a member of the United Russia party, in an interview with Realist English called Tatarstan’s first president Mintimer Shaimiev a “sage” possessing “political genius.”
According to the parliamentarian, Shaimiev is not just an example of a politician for him, but also a person from whom one can ask for advice and who is always ready to help.
“A sage who knows how to wait.”
Answering the question of what he learned from Shaimiev, Morozov called him a “sage.”
“He knows how to endure, he knows how to wait, he knows how to make a decision when he has thought everything through, when he has listened to all sides,” the deputy said. “At the same time, he is a very brave, courageous sage. He can make completely non-standard, unexpected decisions. This is also a manifestation of great wisdom. This talent is akin to a certain political genius.”
Morozov admitted that he always watched Shaimiev “with his mouth open” and learned from him, having the opportunity to communicate with him personally.
“I could ask him something, ask his advice,” he added. “Which I have done practically all my life.” Today, according to the parliamentarian, Shaimiev, while remaining active, acts more as an adviser observing what is happening from the sidelines. “And today, when we meet, we talk on various topics, I ask him some questions and always listen to his very wise advice,” Morozov noted.
Brief biography of Mintimer Shaimiev
Mintimer Sharipovich Shaimiev (born January 20, 1937, in the village of Anyakovo, Aktanysh District, Tatar ASSR) is a Soviet and Russian statesman. He was the first president of the Republic of Tatarstan (1991–2010). Since 2010, he has been State Counsellor of the Republic of Tatarstan. He is a full holder of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland.
Education and early career
In 1959, he graduated from the Kazan Agricultural Institute with a degree in mechanical engineering. From 1960, he worked at agricultural enterprises in Tataria: chief engineer, director of a repair and technical enterprise, head of the Selkhoztekhnika administration, and general director of the Tatselkhoztekhnika association.
Party work
1979–1983 — Secretary of the Tatar Regional Committee of the CPSU for agriculture. 1983–1989 — Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Tatar ASSR. 1989–1990 — First Secretary of the Tatar Regional Committee of the CPSU. 1990–1991 — Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Tatar ASSR.
President of Tatarstan
On June 12, 1991, he was elected the first president of the Republic of Tatarstan. In 1994, he signed the Treaty on the Delimitation of Jurisdictional Subjects and Mutual Delegation of Powers between the federal center and Tatarstan, which helped maintain stability in the region during the 1990s. Shaimiev is considered one of the architects of modern Russian federalism.
Major projects in Tatarstan
Under Shaimiev, major infrastructure and economic projects were implemented in the republic: the creation of the Alabuga special economic zone; the construction of a bridge across the Kama River; the revival of the Bulgar historical and archaeological complex and the island town of Sviyazhsk. In 2010, he voluntarily resigned as president ahead of schedule, becoming State Counsellor of the Republic of Tatarstan — a position he still holds.
“In politics, one must be a sage.”
Speaking about the nature of political decisions, Oleg Morozov emphasized that the cost of a mistake in politics is incomparable to any other mistake. “Here, when you make a mistake, the price is human lives and social upheaval. You cannot make mistakes here. So it is better to think,” he concluded.
“I am flesh and blood of Tatarstan.”
Answering a question about balancing interests between Moscow and Kazan, Morozov stated that he does not even have such a problem, since he has always positioned himself as a representative of Tatarstan.
“I have represented Tatarstan in the Duma for eight consecutive terms. I represented the head of the executive branch of Tatarstan — first the president, now the rais — in the Federation Council for one term,” he said. “Even when I worked in the Presidential Administration, heading the Domestic Policy Department for three years, it was still written on my forehead ‘from Tatarstan’.”
Morozov stressed that despite his Russian origin, he considers himself “flesh and blood” of Tatarstan. “I once came to an interesting conclusion for myself when I thought about what native land is,” he said. “It is not where you were born. It is where your ancestors lie. My ancestors — my mother, father, grandmother, grandfather — they lie in a cemetery in Kazan. That is my land.”
Participation in major projects
The deputy recalled that he was a participant in all the major projects that Tatarstan promoted at the federal level, and the republic won them. “Kazan Federal University appeared, Alabuga, the Universiade venue, the millennium of Kazan,” he listed.
“These are all things that I promoted here as a representative of the republic. I did this using parliamentary instruments.” “Therefore, I do not have such a problem, it is easy for me, I am absolutely organically immersed in both Kazan and Moscow,” Morozov concluded.
