The event "First International 'Eurasia' Award" was dedicated to the centenary of people's diplomacy and gathered representatives from many countries, including those with indirect ties to the Eurasian continent.
The award was organized by the autonomous non-profit structure "Eurasia" in collaboration with Rossotrudnichestvo. For the first time, individuals who made significant contributions to the development of international relations, preservation of cultural traditions, and strengthening ties in the Eurasian space were honored. The nominees included doctors, educators, cultural workers, and journalists from Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Belarus, Moldova, Armenia, Abkhazia, and other states. Some finalists from Italy, Spain, and other countries were unable to attend for technical reasons.
Before the awards were presented, a thorough evaluation was conducted by experts from different countries, who assessed more than three and a half thousand applications for the competition. Participants were evaluated based on criteria of relevance to the theme, timeliness, and significance for strengthening cooperation in Eurasia. More than a hundred contestants reached the finals, and the ceremonial part took place in Moscow.
The ceremony at the National Center "Russia" turned out to be remarkably large-scale and lasted almost four hours, exceeding the planned time. The competition featured 15 nominations, with three participants awarded in each category. Awards were presented by well-known Russian figures in politics, science, sports, and arts, such as the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov, doctor Leo Bokeria, figure skater Irina Rodnina, and singer Denis Maidanov. During breaks, a concert featuring stars of the Russian pop scene took place.
The program was hosted by TV presenter Svetlana Zeynalova and artist Nikolai Baskov.
The delegation from Kyrgyzstan, consisting of 25 people, including experts, stood out among other participants. They were noticeable for their active participation, friendliness, and cheerfulness, sincerely supporting all finalists regardless of their nationality. The Kyrgyz representatives were memorable for their bright national costumes and headgear, and their applause was the loudest.
Kyrgyzstan also received awards. The special "Eurasia" award was given to Eldar Aitmatov, the youngest son of the famous writer and head of the foundation named after him, engaged in cultural diplomacy. In various nominations, the winners included Yekaterina Dyatlova, Sergey Titunin, Igor Vorontsov, Anna Arzhanova, and Nina Kopysova.
The first place in the nomination "Voice of Eurasia: to defend" was taken by the well-known host of Radio "Sputnik-Kyrgyzstan" and author of the video blog "Good Journalist" Talaybek Oroskulov.
The Kyrgyz delegation reciprocated generously, gifting their new friends souvenirs depicting the country, and presented the hosts, including Nikolai Baskov, with an ak-kalpak, explaining its significance and how to wear it.
Before leaving, none of the finalists or experts could forget the united and cohesive team from Kyrgyzstan, which attracted attention with its harmony.
Participants from Armenia noted that they are aware of the difficulties of mountainous terrain, but Kyrgyz people, living in a country with even higher mountains, can better understand what steep ascents and descents are. They believe that autumn 2023 has become a time of ascent for Kyrgyzstan.
