Taking part in the meeting were Chairman of the State Council Commission on Culture and Traditional Spiritual and Moral Values, Sevastopol Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev, Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova, and representatives of the Presidential Executive Office, the Federation Council, the State Duma, other federal bodies of authority, regions, cultural and scientific institutions, as well as public associations.
The meeting launched the preparation of a State Council meeting scheduled to be held in the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia, announced by the President, which will be devoted to the preservation of Russia’s historical and cultural heritage.
Alexei Dyumin stated that the preservation of Russia’s historical and cultural heritage was an integral part of efforts to strengthen the traditional spiritual and moral values of the peoples of Russia, preserve their integrity and ethnic, cultural and linguistic diversity, and also rally them in their service to the Fatherland.
The Presidential Aide noted that based on the results of its preliminary work, the Commission on Culture and Traditional Spiritual and Moral Values has outlined a number of key areas for its work, including the preservation of cultural heritage, small cities, historic and documentary heritage, the intangible heritage of the peoples of Russia (folklore, rituals, customs, and folk crafts), and historical memory. Taken together, they constitute the cultural code of Russia. Alexei Dyumin added that it was also necessary to coordinate decisions to not only preserve but also develop and promote it.
Chairman of the Commission Mikhail Razvozhayev reported on its performance and also called for improving legislation on the protection of cultural heritage and historical settlements and addressing the problem of the shortage of professional restorers.
Olga Lyubimova spoke about the Culture Ministry’s tasks of preserving historical and cultural heritage. She said that the Ministry and other cultural establishments focused on preserving the country’s cultural sovereignty and strengthening traditional Russian spiritual and moral values, and that these efforts will be continued at the systemic level.