Samarkand named CIS Capital of Culture for 2024
Samarkand in Uzbekistan will become the CIS Capital of Culture in 2024. This decision was made at the CIS Heads of State Council meeting in Bishkek, BelTA reports.
The heads of state instructed the CIS Humanitarian Cooperation Council, the CIS Interstate Fund for Humanitarian Cooperation, the CIS Council for Cultural Cooperation, other interested bodies and the CIS Executive Committee to consider supporting cultural events in Samarkand.
Samarkand is one of the world's oldest cities. It was chosen as the first capital of Soviet Uzbekistan in 1924 and is the third biggest city in the country (it had an official population of 573,200 as of 1 January 2023).
In 2001, the historic town of Samarkand was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List under the name “Samarkand - Crossroad of Cultures”.
