Alexander Boroda: Caucasus is a space of tolerance

The president of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia, the founder of the Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center, the member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, Alexander Boroda, spoke in an exclusive interview to Vestnik Kavkaza about the interaction of the Jewish community with the South Caucasus countries, as well as about the situation of tolerance in the region.

‘’There is a great attitude to the Russian-speaking population in Azerbaijan, in the country there is no discrimination of the Jewish community, and there is respect, reverence and understanding. The country's leadership is doing a lot to raise the level of tolerance,’’ he said, adding that lot is being done for this in Georgia and in Armenia. According to the head of FJC Russia, the South Caucasus countries are open to tourists, and there is a atmosphere in the whole, created in these republics.

Speaking about the cooperation with the South Caucasus republics, first of all he pointed out that at present the close contacts with Azerbaijan are the most developed. ‘’We have a cultural dialog with Georgia and Armenia, but more contacts are developed with Azerbaijan",  Alexander Boroda said.

As an example of such cooperation, he cited an exhibition of the Azerbaijani photographer, organized by the Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center in April this year. "Exhibition on the Azerbaijani theme. Space of tolerance’’ was dedicated to the fact that the republic is a platform, where the representatives of all religious denominations peacefully coexist,’’ the president of FJC said. "Also we are working closely with the Center of Heydar Aliyev in the field of contemporary art and in technology. In addition we have good relations with the head of the Heydar Aliyev Center, the vice-president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva.", he said.