Shamil Gafarov, Deputy Prime Minister and Director of the Cabinet Office of the Republic of Tatarstan of Russia, said that 33 countries have confirmed their participation in the Kazan BRICS Summit, of which 24 countries participated at the first-hand level. Gavarov said at a press conference of the government of the Republic: "More than 30 countries have confirmed their participation-24 countries are at the first-hand level, 9 countries are at the second-hand and third-hand level... There are also 6 international organizations and UN Secretary-General Guterres." International organizations attending the summit include the Eurasian Economic Mission, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Russia-Belarusian State Union, and the New Development Bank. Gavarov emphasized: "Not only Tatarstan, but even Russia has never received a delegation of this size." He also mentioned that preparations for the summit began a year and a half ago, and Rustam Minnihanov, the Chief Executive of the Republic of Tatarstan, has been leading the preparations. The BRICS countries are an inter-state alliance established in 2006 by Russia, China, India and Brazil, and South Africa joined in 2011. Russia will hold the rotating chair of the organization from January 1, 2024. Starting from the beginning of 2024, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have joined the BRICS countries. Within the framework of Russia's presidency, the BRICS Summit to be held in Kazan from October 22 to 24 with the participation of national leaders.