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During her visit to Azerbaijan, First Lady Diana Nausėdienė opened the Vincas Krėvė-Mickevičius Auditorium at the Azerbaijan State University of Economics and attended the opening of the photography exhibition “The Karaites of Lithuania” at International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation in Baku. 

The First Lady attended the opening of the auditorium named after the Lithuanian writer and diplomat Vincas Krėvė-Mickevičius during her visit to Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. In her welcome address, Mrs. Nausėdienė underlined that culture and science were the catalysts of society and the prerequisite for the prosperity of countries and their people, whereas culture was also one of the symbols of friendship between Lithuania and Azerbaijan.“It is symbolic that, although born and raised in Lithuania, the writer Krėvė felt a strong attraction to Azerbaijan. His interest in the Azerbaijani culture was a source of great inspiration for him which later reflected in his works. As he began to learn about oriental culture and philosophy, he became a kind of ambassador of these regions to Lithuania,” the First Lady of Lithuania said.

According to Mrs. Nausėdienė, Vincas Krėvė-Mickevičius was famous not only as a writer and a lecturer, but also as a nurturer of human values, who never refused to help anyone.“After becoming involved in local political life, the writer later carried out his diplomatic mission in Baku, where he used his unique position for noble purposes. Vincas Krėvė-Mickevičius saved the lives of hundreds of Lithuanians and people of other nationalities by helping them flee the Soviet terror,” Diana Nausėdienė pointed out.

According to the Lithuanian First Lady, Vincas Krėve-Mickevičius’ life and work are a great example of fruitful cooperation between the two nations, which paved the way for the flourishing of bilateral cultural ties.

On the same day First Lady Diana Nausėdienė also attended the opening of the photography exhibition “The Karaites of Lithuania” at International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation in Baku.  

Diana Nausėdienė stressed that tolerance and respect for other nations, as well as the promotion of their culture and history is one of the cultural bridges between Lithuania and Azerbaijan.“One of the important values shared by Azerbaijan and Lithuania is multiculturalism. Raising awareness about the history and heritage of ethnic minorities is very important in this regard,” Mrs. Nausėdienė said.

According to the First Lady, the Karaites, who settled in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the 14th century under the rule of Grand Duke Vytautas, were not only warmly received, but also became an integral part of society. “The photography exhibition depicting the life of the Karaites in Lithuania only confirms that the role of Karaites in the history of Lithuania is very special and valuable. The Karaites contributed to the strengthening of the Grand Duchy in the Middle Ages and to the creation of independent state in the 20th century,” the First Lady said.

According to Diana Nausėdienė, there were famous doctors, theologians, mathematicians, and people of other professions among the Karaites of Lithuania known in the country and beyond. It is an important mission to preserve the heritage of these people, who left a deep footprint in the history of Lithuania and today have become a prominent part of our country.