Granddaughter of Belarusian literary classic Yakub Kolas becomes Tourism Ambassador of Uzbekistan
The Embassy of Uzbekistan in Minsk, in cooperation with the State Literary and Memorial Museum of Yakub Kolas, organized a cultural event titled "The Land – a Friend of Uzbekistan"
During the event, a certificate was ceremonially presented to Vasilina Mitskevich, officially confirming her appointment as Tourism Ambassador of Uzbekistan in Belarus. The appointment was positively received in Belarusian cultural and public circles.
"I am very pleased to be appointed as a Tourism Ambassador of Uzbekistan. In this role, I will strive to further strengthen the deep and friendly ties between our two countries. I hope to continue sharing with my fellow citizens the beauty and uniqueness of Uzbekistan, a country with a rich centuries-old history that I have personally seen and deeply appreciate. I will do my best to promote tourism and increase the flow of visitors. Together with the Embassy of Uzbekistan, we have set important goals, and I am confident that we will achieve them", - said Vasilina Mitskevich, granddaughter of Yakub Kolas and Chief Curator of the museum’s collections.
As part of the event, a presentation of the documentary film "Tashkent Bag" by Belarusfilm Studio took place. The film highlights the life of the great poet Yakub Kolas in Uzbekistan during World War II. The event gathered members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of the Belarus–Uzbekistan Friendship Society, media and cultural figures, as well as renowned Belarusian writers and journalists.
Tashkent Bag is a unique documentary co-produced by Uzbek and Belarusian filmmakers. It tells the story of Yakub Kolas’s life and work in Tashkent. The film retraces the paths the poet walked during the war, bringing to life the atmosphere of that period.
In his speech, Ambassador of Uzbekistan Rakhmatulla Nazarov emphasized that Yakub Kolas is regarded as a close and beloved poet by the Uzbek people. Uzbekistan gave him refuge and warmth during the difficult years of World War II. He lived and worked in Tashkent for two and a half years and maintained close friendships with many Uzbek writers. The renowned Belarusian poet made a significant contribution to strengthening cultural ties between the two nations, vividly describing Tashkent and locations that are now popular among tourists and visitors.
During the conference, museum visitors had the opportunity to explore a wide array of unique exhibits, including personal belongings brought by Yakub Kolas from Uzbekistan, books published in Tashkent during the war years, and hear his poetry dedicated to Tashkent.