The fifth issue of the New Russia.Heritage magazine, published under the auspices of the Main Administration for Service to the Diplomatic Corps (GlavUpDK) under the MFA of Russia came out. The issue, published to mark multiple important anniversaries of 2026, serves to create a living image of our country, from its diplomatic triumphs to the depths of its folk traditions.
It opens with a conversation on the inseparable link between culture and diplomacy. The 'Context' section features an interview with Denis Alipov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to India, touching on ambitious cultural exchanges between the two countries, India Days in Moscow and Moscow Days in India, the Roerich legacy strengthening spiritual ties between the two nations, joint film projects and literary translations opening new expanses of mutual understanding.
The issue's historical axis is a feature article by Editor-in-Chief Vladimir Khutarev-Garnishevsky, focused on Alexander Gorchakov. 170 years ago, Prince Gorchakov took charge of the Foreign Ministry of the Russian Empire, and the principles he outlined still apply to modernity. This article tells about little-known details of Gorchakov's Lyceum friendship with Pushkin, his brilliant diplomatic gambit at the Congress of Paris and his complicated relations with Otto von Bismarck.
The 'Restoration Academy' section is focused on restoring architectural monuments. Special attention is paid to restoring the Mariupol Drama Theater that opened its doors again recently, preserving one third of its historical structures. The section concludes with a report on the 'To See and To Hear' festival that combines church art and restoration.
The issue's main focus is on the 80th anniversary of Kaliningrad Region. Now, in addition to being Russia's strategic outpost at the Baltic Sea, the region is also a cultural gravity point. The issue tracks its history, from the first decree that created Königsberg Region, to its modern condition, with restored medieval churches, the Amber Museum and a branch of the Tretyakov Gallery. An interview with Ekaterina Manyuk, Director of the Kaliningrad Regional Museum of History and Arts, helps us understand how the Museum's collection that includes relics from the Königsberg storming operation, personal belongings of cosmonaut Aleksey Leonov and the sculptures on Kant Island.
From Russia's westernmost reaches, we move to the Buryat city of Kyakhta that served as the main gateway of the Great Tea Route in the 19th century, earning up to a third of all the Empire's customs revenues. A feature article by historian Nikolay Lupandin immerses us in the mood of the 'Venice on Sands' where tea traders used to build fortunes and the Russian language mingled with the bastardized Mandarin. Today, Kyakhta is getting ready to celebrate its 300th anniversary, and the city Mayor Aleksandr Protasov shares his plans to restore its historical buildings, set up a festival for preserving the historical heritage that ties Russia to China and Mongolia.
The Russian culture code is especially powerful in this new issue. To mark the 120th anniversary of the Birth of Dmitry Shostakovich, the issue features a touching article focused on his Symphony No.7 (the Leningrad Symphony): how it was created in the besieged Leningrad, how it has become a living witness of its time and how the world heard the voice of our indomitable people in it. The 'Interpretation' section offers an essay on Vladimir Dahl, whose 225th anniversary is celebrated this year.
The issue's emotional conclusion is a report by Denis Knyazev, the author of the cover photo, centered on his ethnography projects: 'Weddings of the Peoples of the World' and 'Weddings of the Peoples of Russia', that document living traditions that trace back centuries. Those traditions, the author believes, made our ancestors able to find happiness; so now, when family values once again become the society's foundational pillar, that look back to the past resonates with the present.
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