Gad is also the head of the Egyptian Association of Graduates of Russian and Soviet Universities and secretary-general of the Egyptian-Russian Friendship Society.

The Mufti of Moscow Governorate and Deputy Head of the Religious Administration of Muslims of Russia Sheikh Roshan Abyasov gave them the awards at a ceremony held at the RCC in Cairo.

The Order of Merit included a certificate of appreciation signed by Sheikh Ain Eldin, acknowledging their relentless efforts and great contribution to strengthening Russian-Egyptian relations, consolidating fruitful cooperation for the common interests of both countries, and opening broader horizons of joint work in the humanitarian, cultural, religious, and social fields. This includes the Russian Islamic community and the Arab and Islamic world, specifically Egypt.

Sheikh Roshan Abyasov awards Marat Gatin the Order of Merit.  photo courtesy of the Russian Cultural Centre.

Gatin is a Cairo University graduate, who worked as director of the International Relations Department of the Head of the Republic of Tatarstan, then director of the Russian Cultural Centre in Alexandria, and then director-general of the Russian Cultural Centres in Egypt.

His Arabic is fluent, and he has distinguishedly contributed to strengthening cultural cooperation between Russia and Egypt and coordination with sectors of the Egyptian Ministry of Culture and civil society cultural institutions.

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Gad joined the Soviet Cultural Centre in 1988 as the first Arab director.

He organized the earlier activities of the Russian centre and established many artistic studios.

Additionally, he established the Cinema Club and organized weeks for Russian culture in many governorates.

Gad also contributed to the success of Egyptian participation in artistic and cultural activities in Russia and vice versa in cinema, theatre and visual arts and is still working to build bridges of communication between the two cultures.

For his part, Sheikh Abyasov congratulated the honorees, extending his thanks for the efforts of both Gatin and Gad in reinforcing cultural relations between the two countries.

The Egyptian-Russian relations are witnessing a remarkable development in light of the good relationship and identical visions between the two presidents, Vladimir Putin and Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi.