In the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, in the far north of Siberia, a collection of books about Serbia and the Serbian people has been established thanks to a donation from the Association for Culture, Arts and International Cooperation “Adligat.”
Previously, a “Yamal Collection” was created in Belgrade, and just recently, a hundred books about this Siberian region, along with numerous objects, arrived in Belgrade—forming a rare collection on a global scale about this Arctic region, which is of international importance due to its rich oil and gas reserves.
The collaboration began with a visit by the Governor of Yamal to Adligat last year, followed by a visit from Viktor Lazić, a lawyer and honorary president of Adligat. The latest donation to Adligat was presented by Liana Hairulina, Deputy Head of the Yamal District Office.
Cooperation with Russian regions has been made possible thanks to the selfless and dedicated work of Natalia Klishenkova, Cultural Attaché at the Russian Embassy. On this occasion, Adligat presented a special award—a plaque of appreciation—to Natalia Klishenkova “for supporting culture in the most difficult times, and for fostering friendship among nations.”
Yamal—a region the size of nine Serbias, through which flows the famous Ob River, whose banks are as far as 90 kilometers apart at their widest point—is one of Russia’s wealthiest regions and home to Gazprom. The Yamal Regional Library, located in the region’s capital, Salekhard (one of the largest Arctic cities), has partnered with Adligat and sent a hundred books as a gift. Earlier, Adligat donated a hundred books on Serbia and classical Serbian literature to this library to form a Serbian corner.
“I traveled through Russia for two years and visited 63 regions. Each province there is like a country elsewhere—so rich in history, culture, and natural beauty, and often larger in area than many countries,” said Viktor Lazić, emphasizing that this project would not have been possible without the strong support of the Cultural Attaché of the Russian Federation, Natalia Klishenkova.
“Ms. Klishenkova is more than a cultural attaché. She is a model and an example of how a diplomat can and should work. We have collaborated with more than a hundred cultural attachés over the past two decades—we have never worked with someone more dedicated, always approachable, sincere, and well-intentioned. We once prepared an important exhibition together at midnight. Her commitment to colleagues, partners, work, and culture, her understanding and sacrifice for true values—these are things we will remember,” said Viktor Lazić, honorary president of Adligat.
Thanks to Ms. Klishenkova—and, of course, with the support of other embassy staff—Adligat has facilitated dozens of visits from Russian cultural figures, diplomats, and social workers.
Last year, Adligat presented an exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Belgrade, opened at the Presidency on Andrićev Venac, where rare wartime publications, periodicals, and previously unknown photographs of Russian liberators were shown to the public for the first time. Part of the exhibition was dedicated to heroes from Yamal—Grigory Kalibabov, a Yamal soldier who died liberating Belgrade on the day of its liberation, October 20, 1944, and Nikolai Shakurov, a veteran whom Lazić had the opportunity to meet during his stay in Salekhard.
The Yamal Collection in the Museum of Books and Travel already contains many wonders: the Governor of Yamal gifted a porcelain white bear made by one of the best porcelain factories in the world, based in St. Petersburg and active since the 18th century; there are authentic traditional costumes of the Khanty people—also a gift from distant Siberia. The collection includes objects made from mammoth bones, a chess set made from reindeer antlers, books signed by important writers, and even items signed by Aleksandra Goryachkina, one of the world’s top female chess players.
Thus, two distant parts of the world—Serbia and faraway Yamal—have been brought together, where, in some schools, Serbian is now even being taught.
From next week, visitors to Adligat’s Museum of Books and Travel will be able to view the Yamal Collection as part of its permanent exhibition.
Source and photo: Adligat
