Shvydkoi commented on the demolition of the monument to Aivazovsky in Azerbaijan

Mikhail Shvydkoi, Special Representative of the President of Russia for International Cultural Cooperation, commented on the demolition of the monument to Russian artist Ivan Aivazovsky in Azerbaijan on July 31.

"The actions of the Azerbaijani side to dismantle the monument to Aivazovsky in Karabakh <...> cause regret and deep rejection," the Russian Foreign Ministry's press service quoted him as saying on the Telegram channel.

Shvydkoi noted that if Azerbaijan was unhappy with the monument to Aivazovsky, Baku should have informed Moscow of its decision to remove it. He also added that such destructive actions do not correspond to the spirit of alliance and partnership that binds countries and peoples, and contradict common sense.

At the same time, the Russian side was not notified of any plans to demolish the monument, Shvydkoi concluded.

Pause or failure: why haven't Armenia and Azerbaijan made peace yet

Nikol Pashinyan congratulated Muslims on Eid al-Adha and criticized the hierarchs of the Armenian Apostolic Church

On July 30, the Agency for the Development of Tourism and Culture of Karabakh reported that a monument to Ivan Aivazovsky was demolished in the city of Khankendi on July 29. It is noted that the monument was erected in December 2021.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.