Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Tatarstan

6 September 2013, Friday

Farewell funeral took place today at the Tatar State Philharmonic Hall named after Gabdulla Tuqay. Hundreds of people came to say farewell to the First Minister for Environment Protection and Natural Resources of Tatarstan including relatives, friends, colleagues, and his loved ones. Kind and warm words in memory of Anatoly Ivanovich Schepovskikh were said at the Philharmonic Hall:

Ildar Khalikov, Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan:

“Today not only colleagues of Anatoly Ivanovich, and not only his relatives, but the whole republic grieves on occasion of loss of the First Minister for Environment Protection and Natural Resources of the Republic of Tatarstan. A person who created the whole system of protection of our nature – nature of the Republic of Tatarstan. A person who left an indelible imprint in hearts and souls of people, his colleagues, and all those with whom he came into contact, and who left on the Tatar land much of what any citizen and head of Tatarstan could be proud of. The Red Book of Tatarstan, and the Green Book of Tatarstan are among them. The whole enormous norm-setting baggage that we use today, and that many and many generations will also use. A person who was responsive and very hard on anyone who was against nature and ecology of the Republic. A person who always found a kind word for every colleague. In our hearts we will always remember him this way”. Ildar Khalikov expressed deepest condolences on behalf of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, on behalf of the National Council of the Republic of Tatarstan, and on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Tatarstan.

Artem Sidorov, Minister for Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Tatarstan:

“Today we say farewell to a person with high civil responsibility, a right-minded family man who brought up a son and a daughter, and who was bringing up his grandchildren. Anatoly Ivanovich Schepovskikh started his life journey as a rural teacher, then he served in the ranks of the Soviet Army. Anatoly Ivanovich devoted 10 years of his life to political work and the work of Komsomol. For more than 15 years he worked at executive and representative bodies of local republican authorities, where he will always be remembered as a bright, talented and a motivated manager. Anatoly Ivanovich Schepovskikh was one of the originators of modern nature protection activity in the Republic of Tatarstan. In 1993 the Republican Ministry of Environment Protection and Natural Resources was created under his auspices. Thanks to his professionalism, commitment to principles, ambition and authority ecological safety on the territory of the Republic of Tatarstan was ensured. Anatoly Ivanovich worked in the responsible position of Minister for 8 years being simultaneously Member of the Government of the Republic.

Anatoly Ivanovich devoted 25 years of his life to Leninogorsk and Leninogorsk district of the Republic of Tatarstan, where he worked his way from instructor of the Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union up to the Chairperson of Leninogorsk Municipal Soviet of People's Deputies. It is in Leninogorsk district where Anatoly Ivanovich acquired and developed those personal and management skills, that invaluable experience, which further became the ground for his professional growth on the republican level. Responsible and committed colleagues always worked by his side.

Today we all grieve. One of the founders of the system of ecological safety of the Republic of Tatarstan passed away. Anatoly Ivanovich will remain in the memory of thousands of people as a statesperson of principle who infinitely loved what he did. During his work in leading positions of the nature protection complex of the Republic of Tatarstan, a whole series of directions were developed without which it is impossible to imagine modern system of assurance of ecological safety of the Republic. It is a network of specially protected natural areas — it is the ecological framework of the Republic. It is the system of ecological monitoring, methodology for carrying out of state ecological surveillance. Anatoly Ivanovich transferred his careful attitude to nature into professional field. It is Anatoly Ivanovich who was one of the originators of ecological education and awareness of the population of the Republic. And today care for nature became the main priority not only of nature protection services, but also of every one of us. Anatoly Ivanovich actively used his whole experience and knowledge heading public councils under the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Tatarstan and Administration of the Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resource Usage of the Republic of Tatarstan. Anatoly Ivanovich was a real enthusiast, and until his last days he took active part in implementation of important environmental projects. Thanks to the energy of Anatoly Ivanovich, the Republican target program for nature protection at Nizhnekamsk Municipal District was adopted and is now implemented. An honored ecological specialist of the Russian Federation, a candidate of geographical sciences, and author of many ecological scientific pieces of work, Anatoly Ivanovich had great authority with scientific community”.

Iskhak Sadriev, deputy of the National Council of the Republic of Tatarstan:

“Anatoly Ivanovich started his activity in Leninogorsk. From 1968 until 1993 he held various offices. He started from instructor of the Administrative and Planning Division of Leninogorsk Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and worked his way up to the Chairperson of Leninogorsk Municipal Soviet of People's Deputies. Before that, light-construction panelized houses were built in our city. In the 70-80’s, thanks to the initiative of Anatoly Ivanovich, slum dwellings were torn down. Multi-storied buildings appeared in Leninogorsk. It is his great work, and people are still thankful to him. During the whole period of his activity in Leninogorsk and up till today, no discontent was expressed towards Anatoly Ivanovich. The citizens of Leninogorsk accepted the news on the early death of Anatoly Ivanovich as their personal grief”.

Farit Khayrutdinov, Head of the Administration of the Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resource Usage of the Republic of Tatarstan:

“We worked with Anatoly Ivanovich since 2001. During the moments when reforms took place, Antoly Ivanovich as a professional managed to preserve that framework of ecological specialists who work today for the benefit of our Republic in various jurisdictions. He was not only a professional, but also a friend and a mentor to us. It was very comfortable and convenient to work and develop with him. Anatoly Ivanovich created the nature protection legislation in our Republic. We will use his work and his achievements for a long time”.

Aydar Metshin, Head of Nizhnekamsk Municipal District, Mayor of Nizhnekamsk:

“Time of work of Anatoly Ivanovich with Nizhnekamsk was not as long, but his strong contribution and his recommendations with regard to sanitation of the environment of Nizhnekamsk related to professional activity of Anatoly Ivanovich were very valuable. We, citizens of Nizhnekamsk, see Anatoly Ivanovich not only as the founder of ecological field of the Republic of Tatarstan, but also as a decent, indigenous, open, and communicative person. We worked only for three years, but this short time was the school of professional life for me”.

Nail Gazeev, Professor, Member of the Public Chamber of the Republic of Tatarstan:

“Anatoly Ivanovich Schepovskikh was a real ecological leader. Under his auspices, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of the Republic of Tatarstan was acknowledged the best Nature Protection Ministry among constituent entities of the Russian Federation. During his last years Anatoly Ivanovich productively worked as the Chairperson of the Public Board under the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Tatarstan, and by his work he made direct and immediate contribution to the solution of organizational and administrative matters regarding environment protection of our Republic. He was a good family man, a responsible husband, father, and grandfather. This year his grandson had a son, and he became a great grandfather. He was so proud of every important event in the life of his family. And I hope that his grandson will be proud of his great grandfather during all his conscious life, will look up to him, and will compare his life principles with that life experience that was demonstrated by Anatoly Ivanovich Schepovskikh. Hewasfullofideas. During the last years he was very insistently and fruitfully preparing a book on the ecological history of Tatarstan. I hope that we, his team-mates, will finish preparation and issue of this book and will devote it in memory of Anatoly Ivanovich Schepovskikh”.

Funeral procession continued at church in Peschanye Kovali.

Anatoly Ivanovich Schepovskikh was buried in Laishevo district at the cemetery of Orel rural settlement.

Co-workers of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Tatarstan express their deepest and sincere condolences to the friends and family. We grieve, and we will always remember…

Biography of Anatoly Ivanovich Schepovskikh

He was born on January 15, 1945 in Orenburg region, Buzuluk district, Sukhorechka village.

In 1974 he graduated from the Moscow Order of the Red Banner of Labor Institute of Petrochemical and Gas Industry named after I.M. Gubkin specializing in mining engineering.

07.1963-10.1964 - Mathematics teacher in Trimikhaylovskaya 8-year School of Buzuluk district of Orenburg region.

10.1964-10.1967 – Service in the ranks of the Soviet Army.

10.1967-04.1968 – Instructor of Buzuluk Municipal Committee of the All-Union Leninist Young Communist League.

04.1968-03.1974 – Instructor of Administrative and Planning Division of Leninogorsk Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union

03.1974-03.1976 – Chairperson of political commission of Leninogorsk Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

03.1976-04.1982- Deputy Chairperson of Executive Committee of Leninogorsk Municipal Soviet of People's Deputies.

04.1982 - 04.1992 – Chairperson of Executive Committee of Leninogorsk Municipal Soviet of People's Deputies.

04.1992-04.1993 – Chairperson of Leninogorsk Municipal Soviet of People's Deputies.

03.1993- 06.2001- Minister for Environment Protection and Natural Resources of the Republic of Tatarstan.

30.06.1999 – Candidate of geographical sciences.

06.2001-01.2010 – Deputy Minister for Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Tatarstan.

04.2010- 09.2013 – Councilor of the Head of Nizhnekamsk Municipal District for the issues regarding nature protection.

2010-2013 – Chairperson of the Public Council under the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Tatarstan (the first Council created under the Ministry of the Republic) and Chairperson of the Public Council of the Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resource Usage for the Republic of Tatarstan.

State Awards:

Certificate of Merit of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan, 1995;

Honorary Diploma and Medal “For protection of Russian Nature”, 1999;

Medal “In memory of 1000th anniversary of Kazan”, 2005;

Letter of gratitude of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan, 2005;

Honorable ecological specialist of the Russian Federation, 2009.

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Friends and relatives said farewell to Anatoly Ivanovich Schepovskikh