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On November 4, Russian President Vladimir Putin presented the “Pushkin” Medal to Vice-president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, head of the Foundation’s Russian Office Leyla Aliyeva.

The presentation ceremony took place at a reception in honour of the People’s Unity Day. According to the tradition, at this event, the head of the Russian state presents state decorations to a number of foreign nationals for special services to strengthening of peace, friendship, cooperation, and mutual understanding between peoples.

Leyla Aliyeva expressed her gratitude for the high appreciation of her activity. She underscored the monument erected to great Russian poet Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin in the centre of Baku, as a sign of profound respect for the great Russian culture, literature and art.

Leyla Aliyeva noted that the people of Azerbaijan has been preserving the tradition of cultural and humanitarian cooperation with Russia: “The Russian-Azerbaijani relations are tied with deep historical roots, and these relations are developing successfully today. Cooperation in the humanitarian sphere is part and parcel of our bilateral relations. Education in Russian has been maintained in Azerbaijan in full volume, there are over 300 schools teaching in Russian, and the Baku Slavic University and the Baku Branch of the Lomonosov MSU are functioning. This year, the first foreign branch of I.M.Sechenov Moscow First State Medical University opened its doors to students. ”

“I’m very glad to have made little contribution to strengthening of friendship and kind neighbourhood relations between our countries. Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, thank you again for such a high decoration. Your presentation of this medal to me is of special significance for me. I wish You and the Russian people happiness, abundance and peace” – said Leyla Aliyeva at the end.

Leyla Aliyeva was decorated with “Pushkin” Medal for her contribution to strengthening of friendship and cooperation with the Russian Federation, development of economic ties, and for preservation and promotion of the Russian language and culture abroad” .

The “Pushkin” Medal is not the first Russian decoration of Leyla Aliyeva, the president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. Leyla Aliyeva has been awarded the medals “For services to Astrakhan Region”, “For services to Volgograd Region”, as well as the Saint Princess Olga Order.