Orbán receives head of Tatarstan, promises to seek opportunities to expand cooperation despite sanctions

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán held bilateral talks with Rustam Minnikhanov, the leader of the Republic of Tatarstan, on Saturday evening. During the meeting, they discussed Hungary's readiness to continue cooperation in potential sectors, such as agriculture, building on the results achieved together so far.

Hungarian companies present in Russia are looking for opportunities to expand their activities in Tatarstan despite sanctions and political difficulties.

Orbán pointed out that Hungary is also seeking to maintain cooperation in the fields of culture, science and higher education and that it will continue to welcome students from Tatarstan who wish to study in Hungary under the Stipendium Hungaricum programme.

Who is who, what is what?

Tatarstan:

The Republic of Tatarstan or Tataria is a republic of the Russian Federation.

Rustam Minnikhanov:

Minnikhanov has been the president of the republic since 2010, and is to be named rais (leader, chief) instead of president under a constitutional amendment from 2022. In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the United States sanctioned him and froze his assets in January 2023.

The EU ban:

In May, the European Union planned to add 71 individuals to its sanctions register for actively aiding Russia's campaign against Ukraine. The list included the head of Tatarstan, with the justification being that he is helping to illegally and forcibly deport Ukrainian children to camps in Tatarstan, such as the Miras camp in the Zelenodolsky district. At the time, Hungary tried to have three individuals, including Minnikhanov, removed from the list. This appears to have been successful.