"Sheep for Kurban are like flower sales on March 8th."

      In Tatarstan, authorities have called for not importing animals from other regions for Kurban Bayram

      Photo: Dinar Fatykhov

      In Tatarstan, preparations continue for the main Muslim holiday of Kurban Bayram, which will take place this year on May 27. The main issue concerns the sacrifice. Due to recent events, where particularly dangerous animal diseases were recorded in neighboring regions, control has been intensified. The Deputy Head of the Main Veterinary Department of the Republic, Gabdulkhak Motygullin, announced the construction of a Kurban Hub — the Laishchevsky district of the republic has been named as a likely location. Details can be found in the material from "Real Time."

      "We ask not to import animals from other regions"

      This year, Kurban Bayram in Russia will take place against the backdrop of increased control over animals. Due to the scandalous story of mass destruction of livestock due to the threat of the spread of particularly dangerous diseases, some regions have restricted the import of animals into their territory (an outbreak was recorded, including in Chuvashia). Dinar Fatykhov / realnoevremya.ru

      Authorities in Tatarstan have addressed the local Muslims with a similar recommendation. Deputy Head of the Main Veterinary Department of the Republic, Gabdulkhak Motygullin, urged residents to refrain from bringing in animals for sacrifice.

      — It should be understood that in regions with developed livestock farming, the problem of particularly dangerous diseases remains. Therefore, we ask not to import animals for sacrifice from other regions, — said Motygullin.

      According to him, there are currently about 200,000 sheep in Tatarstan, and there will be enough animals for everyone wishing to make a festive sacrifice.

      61 sites for sacrifice across Tatarstan

      By May 27, Tatarstan has prepared 61 specialized sites for the slaughter of animals. However, equipped places for sacrifice on Kurban Bayram will not be available in all districts of the republic, but only in 23 of them. In particular, 17 sites will open in Kazan.

      It is expected that in 2026, more than 13,000 animals will be sent for slaughter in Tatarstan. The Chief Mufti of Kazan, Rustam Hazrat Valiullin, stated that demand is increasing each time. Last year, 12,946 sacrificial animals were slaughtered at the sites in the republic, 6,438 of them in Kazan.

      Representatives of the veterinary service will work at all official sites. Animals will be identified by ear tags, and veterinary certificates will be issued for the processed meat.

      — If the organizers of the sites think that during the holidays they can quietly import unauthorized animals, it won’t work. This is a holiday, but for us, it remains work, — emphasized Motygullin.

      Special attention will be paid to the disposal of biological and other waste. Special separate containers will be installed for them. All biological waste will subsequently be taken to a plant in Yelabuga. Last year, the volume of such waste removed exceeded 87 tons.

      After the three-day celebration of Kurban Bayram, all sites will be cleaned and disinfected. In Kazan alone, the disinfection area will be about 28,000 square meters.

      There will be enough rams in the republic for everyone

      Special attention was paid to the issue of limited competition. A representative of the veterinary service was asked whether the ban on importing animals would affect price increases. To which Motygullin replied that there should be no jump in prices, as Tatarstan is capable of fully providing the required number of sacrificial animals. He provided statistics on livestock in some districts of the republic: in the Aktanysh district — more than 11,000 sheep, in the Kukmor district — 7,000, in the Mamadysh district — 6,000, in the Tukayev district — 12,000.

      Dinar Fatykhov / realnoevremya.ru

      At the same time, the excitement in the market is already being felt, both speakers agreed. The authorities of Tatarstan believe that recommendations to limit imports from other regions should support local farmers.

      — The sale of lambs for Kurban Bayram is like selling flowers on March 8. The excitement begins on the days of the holiday. Therefore, such restrictions would be beneficial for our producers, it would be support for them. What Rais Rustam Nurgalievich called us a livestock republic is not just high-flown words. We are ready for the celebration of Kurban Bayram. We expect everything to go well, — said Motygullin.

      The day before, representatives of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Tatarstan (DUM RT), the Kazan Executive Committee, and the Veterinary Department visited all 17 sites for sacrifice. No serious violations were found.

      Kurban Hub outside Kazan

      At the very end of the press conference, one of the journalists expressed outrage that children might witness the process of slaughtering animals during Kurban Bayram. According to him, this would be a significant stress for a city child. Rustam Hazrat Valiullin's response did not please him, leading to a near conflict in the press center.

      The emerging scandal was stopped by Motygullin, who shared an insider: the authorities are considering moving all sacrifice sites outside the city. So a Kurban Hub may soon be built near Kazan. The speakers named the Laishchevsky district of the republic as a likely location.

      Maxim Platonov / realnoevremya.ru

      Meanwhile, only those who intentionally go to the place of sacrifice will be able to see the process of slaughtering animals. All 17 sites in Kazan, as well as all other 44 equipped points in the republic, will have barriers to prevent public viewing.

      — We cannot prohibit all parents from bringing their children to the place of sacrifice, — concluded Rustam Hazrat Valiullin.

      Zulfat Shafigullin