Russian culture abroad: Cultural Center “House of Russian Book” opens in Kyrgyzstan

On June 21, 2011 in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) was opened a Cultural Center “House of Russian Book”. The opening ceremony brought together Mikhail Shvydkoi - Special Envoy of the President of Russia for Interregional Cultural Relations, Sergei Vinokurov - the Head of the Presidential Directorate for Interregional Relations and Cultural Contacts, Valentin Vlasov - Ambassador Extraordinary Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Kyrgyzstan, Akhmatbek Keldibekov - Kyrgyz Parliament Speaker and Omurbek Babanov - the First Deputy Prime Minister.

The Cultural Center “House of Russian Book” opened in Bishkek has become the first such center in Central Asia. Here Russian literature and art buffs will have an opportunity to buy books, learn about new arrivals, order necessary editions, and, what is more, this is a good chance to meet like-minded people. The cultural center is to become a facility where the expert community will hold its meetings and discussions. Tomorrow the center is launching a roundtable discussion “The Victory, achieved in unanimity”, timed to 70th anniversary of the Great Patriotic War outbreak.

“I hope that this Center will help to overcome the shortage of Russian literature, satisfy demands of the most avid reader… This is an important event for our bilateral humanitarian relations”, said Sergei Vinokurov at the center’s opening.