Translated with AI
On May 15, 2026, a presentation ceremony for the "Manifesto of Cyrus the Great" and Alexander Shokalo's book "Ukrainians and Tajiks: Cultural Relations" took place in Kyiv. The event was organized by the Embassy of Tajikistan in Ukraine jointly with the Gennady Udovenko Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Agathangel Krymsky Ukrainian-Tajik Society, and the editorial board of the magazine "Ukrainian World." This was reported by the Embassy of Tajikistan in Ukraine.
The gala event was dedicated to the 34th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Tajikistan and Ukraine. It was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, ambassadors and diplomats of foreign countries, heads of international and regional organizations accredited in Kyiv, members of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, rectors and professors of universities and other higher education institutions, scientists and cultural figures, entrepreneurs, and compatriots living in the Ukrainian capital.
Speaking at the ceremony, Tajikistan's Ambassador to Ukraine, Davlatali Nazrizoda, emphasized the significance of the Cyrus the Great Manifesto as the first declaration of human rights. He also called the presentation of Ukrainian orientalist and writer Alexander Shokalo's book, "Ukrainians and Tajiks: Cultural Relations," an important and joyful cultural event.
According to the diplomat, in Tajikistan, Cyrus the Great is considered a symbol of the ancient Aryan civilization, statehood, justice, and humanism. The ambassador noted that Tajik President Emomali Rahmon has repeatedly mentioned Cyrus the Great in his speeches, including in addresses to the country's parliament, as an outstanding ancestor who laid the foundations of a just state.
Davlatali Nazrizoda also emphasized the enduring value of the historical figure of Cyrus the Great, who, according to his speech, abolished slavery, called for peace and mutual respect among people, and ordered the restoration of cities devastated by war. He noted that these values remain relevant to humanity at all times.
During the event, the documentary film "The Manifesto of Cyrus the Great – the First Ancient Declaration of Human Rights" was shown on the big screen in Ukrainian and English.
Viktor Mayko, Special Representative of the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Central Asia and Ambassador of Ukraine to Kazakhstan, congratulated the event's participants on the 34th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. He stated that the current meeting served as an opportunity to reflect on law, culture, and historical memory.
According to him, the presentation of the "Manifesto of Cyrus the Great" and the book "Ukrainians and Tajiks: Cultural Relations" demonstrates that relations between the two countries are based not only on interstate dialogue, but also on the mutual interest of peoples in each other's culture, history, and spiritual heritage.
Ihor Ostash, Director of the Gennady Udovenko Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noted that the event goes far beyond a typical book presentation or cultural event on the diplomatic calendar. He described the forum as a platform for discussing the memory of civilizations, cultural continuity, and spiritual connections that transcend political borders.
Professor Yuriy Voloshin, head of the European Public Law Organization's office in Ukraine, delivered a report on the topic "The Manifesto of Cyrus the Great on Human Rights."
In his speech, Alexander Shokalo, author of the book "Ukrainians and Tajiks: Cultural Relationships," emphasized the ancient kinship between the cultural traditions of the Tajik and Ukrainian peoples. Ukrainian orientalists, art historians, and literary scholars provided a detailed account of the publication's scholarly and historical significance.
Following the ceremony, all participants were presented with the book "Ukrainians and Tajiks: Cultural Relations" and the brochure "The Manifesto of Cyrus the Great – the First Ancient Declaration of Human Rights," prepared and published by the Embassy of Tajikistan in Ukrainian, Tajik, and English. It was noted that this is the first edition of the Manifesto of Cyrus the Great in Ukraine.
The organizers emphasized that the event symbolically coincides with the 35th anniversary of the independence of Tajikistan and Ukraine, as well as the 34th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two states.
