The official opening ceremony of "CIS Culture Capital - 2025" was held on June 3 in the city of Lachin by the organization of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the special representation of the President in Lachin region. Academician Isa Habibbayli, the president of ANAS, officials, well-known figures of science and culture, international experts, as well as local and foreign media representatives attended the ceremony.
In his speech, Minister of Culture Adil Karimli said that according to the decision of the CIS Humanitarian Cooperation Council dated October 8, 2024, the city of Lachin in the Eastern Zangezur region of Azerbaijan was declared the "cultural capital of the CIS" in 2025. He noted that this decision has important socio-cultural significance and is a bright indicator of the support and solidarity of the international community to the process of cultural and economic revival in the territories freed from occupation of Azerbaijan.
"After the liberation of our territories from occupation in 2020, large-scale restoration and reconstruction works are being carried out in these lands under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev. The concept of restoration of liberated territories not only involves the physical reconstruction of infrastructure and monuments, but also the revival of cultural life," A. Karimli pointed out.
CIS Deputy Secretary General Nurlan Seytimov emphasized the importance of the event held in Lachin today. He said that the declaration of Lachin as the "cultural capital of the CIS" is an important event not only for Azerbaijan, but for the entire region. This initiative will contribute to the expansion of cultural cooperation, as well as the revival of the liberated territories.
Polad Bulbuloglu, Chairman of the Culture Committee of the Milli Majlis, Co-Chairman of the Management Board of the CIS Interstate Humanitarian Cooperation Fund, noted that today we are happy that Lachin has obtained a high status as the cultural capital of the Commonwealth of Independent States. According to him, this significant event is of special importance in terms of introducing the rich cultural heritage of Lachin to the world.
The special representative of the President of the Russian Federation on international cultural cooperation, Mikhail Shvidkoy, said that many cultural figures are here today, and this is a clear example of the transformation of Lachin into the cultural center of Azerbaijan.
Masim Mammadov, the special representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Lachin district, said that during the years of occupation, an act of vandalism was committed against our historical monuments in Lachin and other areas. He noted that 217 cultural, 101 educational and 142 medical institutions, 462 commercial facilities, 30 communication and many industrial facilities were destroyed. 54 historical monuments of world importance and 200 monuments of local importance were significantly damaged.
After the speeches, the special representative of the President of the Russian Federation for international cultural cooperation, Mikhail Shvidkoy, presented the "Cultural capital of the Union" certificate to Masim Mammadov, the special representative of the President in Lachin region.
Later, a video showing the destruction of Lachin during the occupation and the reconstruction process of Azerbaijan in this region was shown.
The event continued with the artistic part.
