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Tatarstan's New President Sworn In


Outgoing President Mintimer Shaimiyev (right) embraces successor Rustam Minnikhanov at the inauguration ceremony.
Outgoing President Mintimer Shaimiyev (right) embraces successor Rustam Minnikhanov at the inauguration ceremony.
KAZAN, Tatarstan -- Tatarstan's Prime Minister Rustam Minnikhanov has been inaugurated as the Russian republic's new president in a ceremony in Kazan, RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir Service reports.

After taking the oath in the Tatar and Russian languages, Minnikhanov was presented with the presidential standard and a banner of Tatarstan's coat of arms by outgoing President Mintimer Shaimiyev.

Tatarstan's political elite participated in the ceremony, as did foreign dignitaries such as Organization of Islamic Conference Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu.

Under Russian law, the Russian president nominates a presidential candidate for Tatarstan (and other republics), who must then be approved by the regional parliament.

Minnikhanov, 53, was appointed prime minister in 1998. A close associate of Shaimiyev, he has a reputation as an effective manager. He is also the author of Tatarstan's successful "e-government" project.

Minnikhanov is a motor-sports enthusiast and regular competitor in the FIA European Championships for Rallycross Drivers.

Shaimiyev, 73, has been president of Tatarstan since 1991 and was one of the longest-serving leaders of a Russian entity. He will assume a newly created, nonsalaried position as Tatarstan's state adviser.
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