The city of Lachin hosted a landmark cultural event on Tuesday as it officially opened its term as the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Cultural Capital for 2025. The celebration drew around 100 officials and guests from six CIS member states, marking a significant step in the cultural revit
A Symbolic Moment in a Rebuilt City
In his opening remarks, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Culture Adil Karimli underscored the symbolism of Lachin’s selection, referencing both its natural beauty and deep cultural roots. “The word ‘Lachin’ means ‘falcon’ in Azerbaijani,” Karimli noted. “Like a falcon soaring among the high mountains, this city embodies strength, resilience, and cultural wealth.”
Karimli highlighted Lachin’s historical role as a cultural hub, known for its poets, musicians, and particularly its Gasimushshaghi carpets, a unique contribution to Azerbaijan’s world-renowned carpet weaving tradition. He also praised the city’s culinary heritage, calling its cuisine “a work of art in itself.”
International Participation and Recognition
Among the distinguished speakers were:
Nurlan Seytimov, Deputy Secretary-General of the CIS
Polad Bulbuloghlu, Co-chairman of the CIS Interstate Humanitarian Cooperation Fund
Masim Mammadov, Special Representative of the President in Lachin
Mikhail Shvydkoy, Special Representative of the Russian President for International Cultural Cooperation
During the ceremony, Shvydkoy formally presented the “Union Cultural Capital” Certificate to Masim Mammadov, confirming Lachin’s new cultural status under the CIS framework.
Artistic and Diplomatic Dimensions
Artistic collectives from seven countries took part in the festivities, underscoring the cross-cultural collaboration that defines the CIS Cultural Capital initiative. The event is expected to catalyze a yearlong calendar of cultural exhibitions, performances, and educational activities throughout Lachin.
Broader Implications
Lachin’s hosting of this event holds strategic significance for Azerbaijan, showcasing the country’s efforts to rebuild and reintegrate territories regained during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. The cultural capital designation provides a platform for presenting restoration projects, including the Aghoghlan Temple, and reasserting Lachin’s historic and cultural identity on the international stage.
This marks a pivotal chapter in Lachin’s modern narrative — from a region marked by conflict to one recognized for its cultural richness and potential for regional diplomacy.
Two adjoining buildings collapsed in Tripoli, northern Lebanon, on Sunday (4 February), killing at least six people and trapping an unspecified number...
U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators have discussed an ambitious March goal for Russia and Ukraine to agree on a peace deal, though that timeline is likely ...
The Board of Peace created by U.S. President Donald Trump will hold its first leaders meeting on 19 February in Washington, a U.S. government official...
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said a man suspected of shooting senior military intelligence officer Vladimir Alexeyev in Moscow has been d...
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze says the country is accelerating investments to enhance its connectivity and transit functions, with key road links set for completion by 2030.
The U.S. has become a central outside power in the South Caucasus, shaping diplomacy, security and energy flows. Its relations with Azerbaijan and Armenia have evolved from similar beginnings into two distinct partnerships that now define Washington’s role in the region.
Azerbaijan has summoned Russia’s ambassador in Baku and issued a formal protest note over remarks by Russian lawmaker Konstantin Zatulin, escalating diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
If Fars News Agency is to be believed, Iran's neighbours should be on alert. The agency, which reportedly mirrors the views of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), warned Azerbaijan and Türkiye that if the U.S. and Israel attack Iran, they will become "legitimate targets for Tehran."
Storm Leonardo hit Spain and Portugal on Tuesday, forcing more than 11,000 people from their homes, as a man in Portugal died after his car was swept away by floodwaters and a second body was found in Malaga.
Iran would retaliate by striking U.S. military bases across the Middle East if it comes under attack by American forces, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday (7 January), stressing that such action should not be seen as targeting the countries hosting those bases.
At least 31 people have been killed and scores wounded in a suicide bombing at a mosque in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, during Friday prayers, prompting widespread international condemnation.
U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators have discussed an ambitious goal of reaching a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine by March, though the timeline is widely viewed as unrealistic due to deep disagreements over territory, according to multiple sources familiar with the talks.
A Japanese city near Mount Fuji has cancelled its annual cherry blossom festival, saying growing numbers of badly behaved tourists are disrupting daily life for residents.
Two adjoining buildings collapsed in Tripoli, northern Lebanon, on Sunday (4 February), killing at least six people and trapping an unspecified number beneath the rubble, according to security sources.
The Board of Peace created by U.S. President Donald Trump will hold its first leaders meeting on 19 February in Washington, a U.S. government official confirmed, marking the board's formal debut after weeks of global scrutiny.
Benjamin Netanyahu will meet Donald Trump in Washington on Wednesday, a date brought forward as indirect U.S.-Iran nuclear talks in Oman restart and Tehran presses its enrichment rights while ruling out missile negotiations.
Saudi Arabia and Syria have signed agreements worth about $5.3bn aimed at boosting cooperation across aviation, telecommunications and water infrastructure, marking one of the largest economic initiatives since Syria’s leadership change.
The U.S. has become a central outside power in the South Caucasus, shaping diplomacy, security and energy flows. Its relations with Azerbaijan and Armenia have evolved from similar beginnings into two distinct partnerships that now define Washington’s role in the region.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment