Rustam Nurgaliyevich Minnikhanov (, ; born 1 March 1957) is a Russian politician who has served as the Head of Tatarstan, a federal subject of Russia, since 2010. Early life and education Rustam Minnikhanov was born on March 1, 1957 in a Volga Tatar family in the New Arysh (; ) village of Rybno-Slobodsky District in the Tatar ASSR. He graduated from Kazan Agricultural Institute in 1978 as mechanical engineer and from Correspondence Institute of Soviet Trade as a commodity expert in 1986. He is a doctor of economic sciences. Career After graduating from the institute in 1978, he began his career as an engineer in Sabinsky District Association of Selkhoztekhnika. He then worked in the district as a senior engineer and chief power engineer in a state timber industry enterprise and was deputy chairman of District Consumer Society Board. In 1985–1993 he worked in Arsky District as chairman of the District Consumer Society Board, Chairman of the Executive Committee of People's Deputies District Council, First Deputy Head of District Administration. In 1993 he was appointed head of Vysokogorsky District administration. Minister of Finance (1996–1998) In November 1996 Minnikhanov was appointed minister of finance of the Republic of Tatarstan. Prime Minister of Tatarstan (1998–2010) From July 10, 1998 until March 25, 2010 Minnikhanov was prime minister of the Republic of Tatarstan. As prime minister, he was known for his enthusiasm for technological innovation, spearheading the republic's move to digital, paperless government and the streamlining of official business through the use of electronically distributed documents and electronic signing of official documents. President of Tatarstan (2010–present) On January 27, 2010, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev nominated Minnikhanov to be the new president of Tatarstan and on March 25, 2010, Minnikhanov formally assumed the office of President. His ceremony was presented on Channel One Russia by Maxim Sharafutdinov. 2014 welcome committee for Crimea During the 2014 Crimean crisis, Minnikhanov acted as a mediator between the Kremlin government and the Crimean Tatar community over concerns raised amongst Crimean Tatars over potential persecution by Russia should it annex the peninsula. On 5 March Minnikhanov signed an agreement on co-operation between Tatarstan and the Aksyonov government in Crimea that implied collaboration between ten government institutions as well as significant financial aid to Crimea from Tatarstan businesses. On 11 March Minnikhanov was in Crimea on his second visit and attended as a guest in the Crimean parliament chamber