Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman Ayhan Hajizade called the comments of the Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for International Cultural Cooperation Mikhail Shvydkoi on the cancellation by Azerbaijan of all events through the Russian line "unacceptable".
Shvydkoi said yesterday that Russia does not intend to impose retaliatory restrictions on Azerbaijani culture, despite Baku's decision to cancel all Russian cultural events in the country.
He explained that our side will recommend citizens, including artists, to carefully assess the risks when planning trips to Azerbaijan. Shvydkoi condemned Baku's ban on performances by Russian artists, including children's groups participating in international events, calling this decision illegal and detrimental to the cultural diversity of the Azerbaijani side itself."From my point of view, the investigation of the criminal past of Russian citizens in Yekaterinburg is hardly reasonable to confuse with the interstate interactions between Russia and Azerbaijan in the field of culture," Interfax quoted Shvydkoi as saying.
Hajizade considered Shvydkoi's words unacceptable.
"The targeted and unintentional murders and violent actions demonstratively committed by Russian law enforcement agencies against Azerbaijanis because of their ethnicity in the city of Yekaterinburg have caused a just protest and condemnation of Azerbaijan. Against the background of these events, which have affected bilateral relations with Russia, the decision to cancel cultural events is a completely legitimate and adequate step. As for the opinion that the cancellation of Russian cultural events "impoverishes the cultural environment and landscape of Azerbaijan," it should be noted that the mentioned prejudices of Mr. Shvydkoi, who has repeatedly stated his admiration for the high level of culture of our country during his visits to Azerbaijan, are surprising…We do not think that the concert programs of such Russian singers as Basta impoverish the cultural landscape of our country. The Azerbaijani culture, which has been developing for thousands of years, is an example for many states and peoples. Azerbaijan is rightfully proud of its unique historical and material and cultural monuments, rich literature, art and music," Hajizadeh said in a statement.