The comments made by Mikhail Shvydkoy, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for International Cultural Cooperation, during an interview with the Interfax agency regarding the decision to cancel cultural events planned to be held in Azerbaijan with Russia through state and private enterprises, and the attempt to distort the decision of the Azerbaijani side by taking it out of context, are unacceptable.

Axar.az reports that this was stated by Aykhan Hajizada, Head of the Press Service Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, in his comment on the views of Mikhail Shvydkoy, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for International Cultural Cooperation, on the cancellation of Russian cultural events in Azerbaijan.

The deliberate and extrajudicial killings and acts of violence committed by Russian law enforcement agencies against Azerbaijanis due to their ethnic affiliation in the city of Yekaterinburg have caused Azerbaijan's justified protest and condemnation.

Against the background of these events that have undermined bilateral relations with Russia, the decision to cancel cultural events is a completely legal and adequate step.

As for the opinion that the cancellation of Russian cultural events “impoverished the cultural environment and landscape of Azerbaijan”, let us note that the aforementioned biased opinions of Mr. Shvydkoy, who has repeatedly expressed his admiration for the high level of culture of our country during his visits to Azerbaijan, are surprising. In Shvydkoy’s words, we do not think that the concert programs of Russian singers like Basta impoverished the cultural landscape of our country.

Azerbaijani culture, which has been developing for millennia, is an example for many states and peoples. Azerbaijan is rightly proud of its unique historical and material-cultural monuments, rich literature, art, and music.