Nail Magdeev spoke about the choice between a career in the KGB and caring for his father.

      The mayor of Naberezhnye Chelny, Nail Magdeev, today shared his story of becoming who he is at the youth forum "Bridge Moscow - Tatarstan." In particular, he spoke about an unexpected turn in his life - an invitation to work in the Committee for State Security (now the FSB). This happened during his work in Bugulma - a few years after returning from Leningrad, where he studied, and his internship in the Tyumen region.

      - Naturally, I was walking with a cold sweat on my back, thinking: "I probably haven't revealed any state secrets." Then the senior officer says: "Comrade Magdeev, we would like to invite you to work in the Committee for State Security." For any guy at that time, it was a dream - to work in the federal security service, - recalled Magdeev.

      He needed to pass a medical examination and undergo two years of training in Tbilisi. Magdeev passed the medical exam, but after talking to his father, who was paralyzed, he decided to stay home.

      - My father listens to me carefully and asks: "Why did you come back from the North, son?" I say: "To support you, to take care of you." He says: "If you leave, what will happen to me?" I chose my father. Each of you will have a fork in the road - and quite a few - you will have to choose your life path, your track. Therefore, you need to choose according to your conscience and heart, - advised Nail Magdeev to the youth.

      Magdeev shared that for him, a "simple guy" from Bugulma, it is a great honor to lead a city of half a million.

      - I can say, dear friends, - mayors are not born, they become mayors, - noted Magdeev. - My parents are simple, from peasant backgrounds. They came to Bugulma, got married, and had two sons. We were raised in an ordinary family, and my parents did not have higher education. Nevertheless, they tried to ensure we received that education. We were taught to work, and all of this today undoubtedly allows me to feel confident, knowing that I have gone through difficult physical labor.

      The mayor said he received his higher education at the Leningrad Forestry Technical Academy named after Kirov, emphasizing that "my parents did not hold my hand." After the first year, he worked in a construction student brigade in the Tyumen region. By the age of 20, he was earning 5,500 rubles - at that time, that was the price of a "Zhiguli." He gave his first money to his parents, who bought a "Moskvitsh." Later, the mayor had to return home - his father was paralyzed. Doctors said he had two months to live, but thanks to family support, he lived for another 11 years, shared the city leader.

      Already in Bugulma, Nail Magdeev worked as a mechanical engineer and participated in the work of the public council.

      He named the first president of Tatarstan, Mintimer Shaimiev, as his teacher in his career, and his guiding star is his mother, who is now 91 years old. She lives in Bugulma.

      - She often comes to Naberezhnye Chelny and, to be honest, if I were to translate it into youth language, she "builds" me. She drives around the city and says: "Son, you have some disorder there, the roads are not very well repaired, and there is garbage lying around." I say: "Mom, we don't have money for the roads." She says: "Well, go to Rustam Nurgalievich, ask him, he is your boss," - smiled Magdeev and recalled another story - Once we started repairs in my mother's house in Bugulma. I decided to argue with her about how to do it better. Then my mother stops me and says: "Do you have a son? Can you raise him to become the mayor of a half-million city?" I say: "Probably not." She says: "When you raise your son and he becomes mayor, then you can argue with me, but for now, be quiet," - the mayor recounted with a smile.

      The "Bridge Moscow - Tatarstan" forum is a platform where speakers, drawing on personal experience, share advice with young people on choosing a profession, achieving success, and answer questions from event guests. Among the participants of the forum are the head of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, singer Alsu, test cosmonaut Sergey Ryzhikov, Olympic champion Alina Zagitova, and others.

      More news about the event:

      Nail Magdeev spoke about his career path at the "Bridge Moscow-Tatarstan" forum. Today in Moscow, at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, the XI youth forum "Bridge Moscow-Tatarstan" took place. 18:30 11.04.2026 Administration of Naberezhnye Chelny - Naberezhnye Chelny

      Magdeev on criticism of his work from family: "Son, your roads are not very well repaired." The mayor of Naberezhnye Chelny, Nail Magdeev, spoke about how his mother evaluates his work as the head of the auto city. 17:30 11.04.2026 Business Online - Kazan

      Nail Magdeev spoke about the choice between a career in the KGB and caring for his father. The mayor of Naberezhnye Chelny, Nail Magdeev, today shared his story of becoming who he is at the youth forum "Bridge Moscow - Tatarstan." 17:25 11.04.2026 Chelny-Biz.Ru - Naberezhnye Chelny