Mayor Sergei Vereshchagin held a meeting with Rahman Mustafayev, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Russia. Natalia Firyulina, Chairwoman of the Krasnoyarsk City Council, also attended the event. The Ambassador noted in his address:

— The potential for mutually beneficial cooperation between Azerbaijan and Krasnoyarsk ​is enormous, so we decided to discuss ways to intensify dialogue and partnership—in trade and economic matters, investment, and humanitarian and cultural contacts.

Krasnoyarsk cooperates with Azerbaijan in various fields. Other than college and university students, Krasnoyarsk often welcomes professional athletes from Azerbaijan who participate in international events here, such as the Ivan Yarygin Memorial Freestyle Wrestling Tournament and the Vladimir Gulidov Memorial Judo Competition.

Natalia Firyulina, Chairperson of the City Council of Deputies:

— We maintain good-neighborly relations with all nationalities living in the city and develop opportunities for cooperation. We have a strong Azerbaijani National and Cultural Autonomy that cares for its compatriots and strives to ensure their healthy integration into the life of the city.

Representatives of the Azerbaijani Autonomy regularly participate in citywide events, including City Day, the Krasnoyarsk City Forum, and events commemorating National Unity Day.

Mayor Sergei Vereshchagin:

— We are always open to dialogue and strengthening neighborly relations. Azerbaijan is an important strategic partner for Russia. We are prepared to further develop educational contacts, strengthen cooperation in youth policy, and participate in cultural projects. Our cities, Krasnoyarsk and Baku, are connected by regular direct flights. Developing transport links opens up certain prospects for bilateral tourism.

Krasnoyarsk and Azerbaijan are also linked by a shared history dating back to the Great Patriotic War. Pilots of the legendary ALSIB air route gained their first experience on the southern route (the Lend-Lease route through Iran and Azerbaijan). Krasnoyarsk and Ganja share similar military histories – thousands of combat aircraft essential to the front passed through our cities. In memory of the heroes, on the 81st anniversary of the Great Victory, representatives of the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Governor's Office of the Krasnoyarsk Region and the city, as well as the regional Azerbaijani National and Cultural Autonomy of the Region honored their memory and laid flowers at the Eternal Flame.