Moscow celebrates 90th anniversary of Heydar Aliyev's birth

Festivities dedicated to the upcoming 90th anniversary of the birth of the Azerbaijani national leader Heydar Aliyev started today in Moscow, in the Column Hall of the Unions House.Government officials, politicians, the Russian political establishment and heads of accredited diplomatic missions in Moscow, as well as representatives of the Azerbaijani Diaspora in Russia came together to celebrate this date.Opening remarks were delivered by the Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Leyla Aliyeva, and the State Duma Speaker, Sergei Naryshkin. The Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Russia, Polad Bulbuloglu explained that the venue of the celebration is no accident: "Heydar Aliyev was very fond of this room, while working in senior positions in Moscow, he attended various events here: artists' birthdays, meetings with the leading Azerbaijani and Soviet musicians."The All-Russian Azerbaijani Congress presented a prize named after Heydar Aliyev established a year ago given to prominent Russian public figures. A photography exhibition dedicated to the life of the national leader is being held at the venue. The program ends with the concert "Heydar Aliyev's favourite works" by the Grand Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra conducted by Vladimir Fedoseyev.