The head of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, canceled all mass performances planned for the weekend. Among them are the traditional festivities on the occasion of “Naurz”, the festival of the arrival of spring among the Turkish peoples. In Kazan, on March 23, representatives of dozens of cultural and national autonomies living in the republic would gather on the square in front of the Tatar State Academic Theater named after G. Kamal. The opening of the first “Kazan Book Festival” at the National Library of the Republic of Tatarstan will not be held on time. Vladimir Presnyakov’s concert at the Kazan Expo exhibition center has been postponed. The theaters of the republic canceled their performances. All those who have purchased tickets will have the money automatically returned to their cards.
Kazan universities transferred classes to the online format on Saturday. As for schools, kids here have been on spring break since March 23rd.
An eyewitness to the tragic events that took place at the Crocus Town Hall was the former mayor of Nizhnekamsk and now a deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation from Tatarstan, Aidar Metshin. He was in the hallway when the shooting began and managed to run out into the street through the side entrance.
“I express my deepest condolences to the families and friends of those killed and injured in this monstrous terrorist attack at Crocus Town Hall. As a person who was inside the events at the time of the terrorist act, I want to say that the terrorists will not be able to achieve “Its objective: to sow panic and fear in our society,” Aidar Metshin wrote on his Telegram channel.
The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Republic of Tatarstan and other law enforcement agencies of the republic did not announce the introduction of additional security measures. The press service of the head of Tatarstan informed RG that law enforcement agencies are working hard to ensure security.
