"I couldn't imagine that I would encounter such lawlessness," Engel Fattakhov wrote in a letter to Mintimer Shaimiev.

      The documents on the basis of which the former Minister of Education was detained turned out to be forged, and witnesses were intimidated, it says

      Photo: Chelny-biz.ru

      Former Minister of Education and former head of Atnashinsky District Engel Fattakhov, accused of corruption, wrote an open letter to the first president of the republic, Mintimer Shaimiev.

      — You believed in me and at the age of 36 entrusted me with heading the district. Thank you very much! Over many years working under your leadership you taught me how to work, raised me and truly became a second father to me, — it says.

      As Engel Fattakhov writes, his main goal was to make his native district a leader in all areas. He listed the main achievements reached during his tenure, including high livestock and yield indicators, and the opening of a Humanities Gymnasium for gifted children. Fattakhov also expressed gratitude to the President of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov.

      — But, dear Mintimer Sharipovich, from 2015–2017 some forces began to control my fate. Who they are and why they do this — I do not understand, no matter how I try to think it through. These forces very much wanted to remove me from the post of minister. They did not even hide it, although they could not coherently explain the real reason. Of course, disputes around the Tatar language became a very convenient pretext for this! — the letter says.

      Fattakhov recalled that after leaving the post he returned to work in his native district, but "a year before retirement they forced me to leave, forced me to write a resignation letter." As Fattakhov writes, he was not even allowed to continue working at the Humanities Gymnasium for gifted children.

      Chelny-biz.ru

      — Do you remember, I consulted you, and you said: "Engel, will they have to remove you from there too?" After those words everything became clear to me... and I kept silent, — the former official addressed Mintimer Shaimiev. — Then, thanks to Rustam Nurgalievich, I took the position of manager of the farm in my native village. My fellow villagers and I gladly began to work: in three years the agrofirm "Chishma" came to first place among the district’s farms in economic indicators, the enterprise’s average salary rose to 70,000 rubles.

      Fattakhov claims that "the actions to squeeze me out of Atnash began back in 2022."

      — On May 21, 2024 I was arrested based on falsified papers. To date there is not a single document in the court case that would justify my detention, because they all turned out to be forged. The investigation was conducted very dirtyly, many witnesses were intimidated and forced to give testimony against me. Even Marat Gotovich Akhmetov, whom I once respected, disowned his signature and gave false testimony against me. I won’t even speak about the others — they were simply forced! What times are we living in? I can’t wrap my head around it, I can’t find an answer! Today, having compiled these false materials, the case was brought to court. The prosecutor of the republic did not deem it necessary to verify the truthfulness of these facts. Previously I had seen such injustices only on television in films. I could not imagine that in old age I would face such lawlessness myself. During the investigation it turned out that this case was commissioned, and the investigators themselves told me this directly, — he says.

      As Fattakhov writes, he did not want to admit investors into the district in order to preserve the villages and livestock farming, and "not out of a desire to grab something extra for myself."

      The letter ends with another appeal to the first president of the republic:

      — Dear Mintimer Sharipovich! While I am in the Chistopol and Menzelinsk prisons, the people who share a cell with me often ask: "You were born in the same district as Mintimer Sharipovich, you worked for a long time and very well under his leadership, were awarded high state honors, directed all your efforts and endeavors to improving the living standards of the district’s population, did not appropriate anything, did not steal. Why are they treating your fate so unfairly?" — they say. I could not answer that question! Where did I go wrong? With deep respect to you, Engel Fattakhov. November. Menzelinsk prison.

      More about the lawsuit against Fattakhov — in the material of "Realnoe Vremya".

      Galiya Garifullina

      Background

      Fattakhov Engel Navapovich

      Born June 12, 1961 in the village of Chishma, Atnashinsky District, Tatar ASSR.

      — 1983 — graduated from the Kazan Agricultural Institute (specialty "mechanical engineer"), postgraduate studies at KAI.

      — 1983–1984 — engineer at the Atnash district agricultural machinery enterprise.

      — 1984–1985 — second secretary of the Atnash district committee of the Komsomol (VLKSM).

      — 1985–1986 — engineer at the agriculture department.

      — 1986–1987 — chief engineer of the Atnash district agrochemical enterprise.

      — 1987–1989 — party committee secretary of the kolkhoz named after the 40th Anniversary of Victory.

      — 1993 — lecturer in the "Agricultural Machinery" department at KAI.

      — 1993–1995 — first deputy head of the administration of Atnashinsky District.

      — 1995–1997 — deputy head of administration of Sarmanovsky District.

      — 1997–1998 — first deputy head of administration.

      — 1998–2012 — head of administration of Atnashinsky District.

      — 2000–2004 — deputy of the State Council of the Republic of Tatarstan of the second convocation.

      — 2006–2012 — head of the municipal formation "Atnashinsky Municipal District".

      — 2012–2017 — Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Tatarstan.

      — 2013 — acting Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan.

      — 2013–2017 — Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan.

      — 2017–2018 — acting head of the executive committee of Atnashinsky District of the Republic of Tatarstan.

      — 2018 — head of the executive committee of Atnashinsky District of the Republic of Tatarstan.

      — 2018–2022 — head of Atnashinsky Municipal District.

      Author of nine scientific works and two inventions.

      Currently — an accused in a criminal case of corruption.

      More news about the event:

      "Could not imagine that I would face such lawlessness": Fattakhov wrote to Shaimiev

      Former Minister of Education and former head of Atnashinsky District Engel Fattakhov, accused of corruption, wrote an open letter to the first president of the republic, Mintimer Shaimiev. 21:35 29.11.2025 Chelny-Biz.Ru - Naberezhnye Chelny

      "Could not imagine that I would face such lawlessness": Engel Fattakhov wrote a letter to Mintimer Shaimiev

      The documents on the basis of which the former Minister of Education was detained turned out to be forged, and witnesses were intimidated, it says

      Photo: 21:20 29.11.2025 Realnoe Vremya - Kazan