The State Museum of Arts of the Republic of Karakalpakstan I.V. Savitsky and the State Museum of History of St. Petersburg signed a memorandum of cooperation. This agreement resulted from a visit by a delegation from the World Club of Residents of St. Petersburg to Uzbekistan, aimed at strengthening museum, academic, and cultural ties, as reported by the Dunyo information agency.
The delegation was headed by the club's chairperson, Natalia Sidorkevich. The visit began in Nukus with a wreath-laying ceremony at the grave of I.V. Savitsky, founder of the State Museum of Arts of the Republic of Karakalpakstan. Following this, the delegation met with Ajiniaz Kaynazarov, Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Karakalpakstan.
Participants discussed opportunities for joint work in the fields of science, higher education, tourism, publishing, and exchange between museums. During the meeting, greetings were also conveyed from the Governor of St. Petersburg, Alexander Beglov, and the Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of the city, Alexander Belsky.
The messages emphasized the historical connection and long-standing partnership between St. Petersburg and Uzbekistan, including Uzbekistan's contribution to hosting thousands of residents evacuated from besieged Leningrad during the Second World War. The parties also highlighted the importance of further developing humanitarian ties between the regions.
In addition to signing the memorandum, Sidorkevich presented the museum with works by St. Petersburg artists who are members of the World Club of Residents of St. Petersburg. Among the gifts were the canvas 'Mausoleum of Amir Timur' by Russian artist Nikita Fomin, awarded the title People's Artist of Russia, as well as paintings by Anatoly Annenkov, a member of the Union of Artists of Russia and a lecturer at the Russian Academy of Arts. The museum also received the bibliophilic edition 'Hermitage: Earthly and Heavenly,' published by the Rare Book publishing house from St. Petersburg.
The cultural program included visits to ancient monuments of Karakalpakstan—Chilpyk, Toprak-Kala, and Ayaz-Kala—as well as an excursion to Ichan-Kale in Khiva, which is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. In Khiva, the delegation met with Odilbek Ibragimov, director of the museum-reserve. The parties discussed issues of preserving and restoring mud-brick architecture in the context of climate change and exchanged commemorative gifts.
After the completion of the visit, prospects for conducting joint research and exhibition projects involving museums in St. Petersburg, Nukus, and Khiva were determined. The World Club of Residents of St. Petersburg also thanked the Consulate General of Uzbekistan in St. Petersburg for assistance in organizing the trip.
