Mintimer Shaimiev was born on January 20, 1937, in the village of Anyakovo, Aktanysh region, into the family of peasants.
His grandfather Shaimukhammet was a prosperous peasant of average means. During the years of collectivization he was dispossessed and the family had to move from one place to another. His father, Shagisharip aga Shaimiev, devoted all his life to agriculture for 26 years being a collective farm chairman.
In 1954, he finished school and entered Kazan Institute of Agriculture. After he graduated from the faculty of mechanization of Kazan Institute of Agriculture (1959), he worked in mechanization of agriculture field.
1969–1983 - Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources of the Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (TASSR).
1983 - First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the TASSR.
1983-1985 - Secretary of the Tatar Oblast Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU).
1985-1989 - Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.
1989-1990 - First Secretary of the Tatar Oblast Committee of the CPSU.
In 1990, Mintimer Shaimiev was elected Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. The same year, the Supreme Council adopted the Declaration on State Sovereignty of the Republic of Tatarstan.
The multinational people of Tatarstan highly estimated the efforts of the first President aimed at strengthening peace and unity in the republic and solving complicated socio-economic problems. He was re-elected President of the Republic of Tatarstan twice (on March 24, 1996 and March 25, 2001).
1994-2001 – member of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.
March 25, 2005, upon submission of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, the State Council of the Republic of Tatarstan conferred authority of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan on Mintimer Shaimiev.
Member of the Presidium of the RF State Council since May 2009 (member of the Presidium of the RF State Council 2000-2001).
Since December 1, 2001 - Co-chairman of the Higher Council of the United Russia party.
The term of office of President of the Republic of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev ended on March 25, 2010.
On April 21, 2010 Mintimer Shaimiev was appointed State Counselor of the Republic of Tatarstan.
Married, wife Sakina Shaimieva. 2 sons, Radik Shaimiev and Airat Shaimiev.
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