On June 3, the official opening ceremony of the CIS Cultural Capital – 2025 was held in the city of Lachin.
Organized by the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan and the Special Representative Office of the President in the Lachin district, the ceremony gathered together officials, renowned scientists and cultural figures, international experts, as well as local and foreign media representatives.
In his remarks, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Culture Adil Karimli highlighted that according to the decision of the CIS Humanitarian Cooperation Council on October 8, 2024, the city of Lachin in Azerbaijan’s Eastern Zangezur region has been designated as the Cultural Capital of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) for 2025.
He stated that this decision carries crucial social and cultural importance and serves as a clear manifestation of international support and solidarity for the cultural and economic revival in Azerbaijan's liberated territories.
According to him, the declaration of Lachin city as the "Cultural Capital of the CIS" will serve as a significant impetus for the city's cultural revival and active integration into the system of international cooperation.
Noting that since the liberation of Azerbaijan’s territories in 2020, extensive restoration and reconstruction efforts have been carried out under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, Minister Adil Karimli added: “The restoration concept for the liberated areas not only includes rebuilding of infrastructure and monuments, but also aims at the revival of cultural life”.
Nurlan Seytimov, Deputy Secretary General of the CIS, stressed the significance of the event, mentioned 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.
“Today, we celebrate the joy of Lachin receiving the prestigious status of the Cultural Capital of the Commonwealth of Independent States,” said Polad Bulbuloglu, Chair of the Committee of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Culture and Chair of CIS Council for Humanitarian.
Mikhail Shvydkoy, Special Representative of Russian President on International Cultural Cooperation, pointed out that the participation of many cultural figures in today’s ceremony is a strong indication that Lachin has become a cultural center of Azerbaijan.
Underscoring that during the years of occupation, acts of vandalism were committed against Azerbaijan’s historical monuments in Lachin and other territories, Masim Mammadov, Special Representative of the President in the Lachin district, stated: “217 cultural institutions, 101 educational facilities, and 142 medical establishments were destroyed by Armenians. Additionally, 462 commercial properties, 30 communication centers, and numerous industrial sites were obliterated. Significant damage was inflicted on 54 historical monuments of global significance and 200 locally significant heritage sites, leading to a major loss in cultural and historical legacy.”
Mikhail Shvydkoy, Special Representative of Russian President on International Cultural Cooperation, presented the "Cultural Capital of the Commonwealth" certificate to Masim Mammadov, the Special Representative of the President in Lachin district.
Subsequently, the event featured the screening of a video highlighting the profound devastation inflicted upon Lachin during its occupation, as well as Azerbaijan’s ongoing restoration and reconstruction efforts in the region.
