Next year's Russian Seasons to be held in Bahrain

MOSCOW. Feb 8 (Interfax) - Russia's international cultural project titled "Russian Seasons" will take place in Bahrain in 2025 and will be timed to coincide with the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations being established between the two countries, Russian Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova said on Thursday.

"In 2025, we are celebrating 35 years since [Russia] established diplomatic relations with Bahrain. I have talked about plans to hold our large-scale international project Russian Seasons, timed to coincide with the jubilee. His Majesty [King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa] has already supported the initiative," Lyubimova said on Telegram.

"Holding Russian Seasons will underline the special status of our friendship with Bahrain," she said.

The project involves preparing a special program. Tours of theater groups, bands and artistic collectives will be organized. The plan also includes holding exhibitions from the biggest museums, circus shows, masterclasses, and educational programs.

The project aims to introduce foreign audiences to Russian culture. In various years, the Russian Seasons event has been held in Japan, Italy and Germany. France, Belgium and Luxembourg were to host the event in 2020, but the coronavirus situation led to a partial postponement of the event.

In 2021, Russian Seasons was held in South Korea and Belgium. The following year it was meant to take place in Denmark, Sweden and Norway, but never did. In 2023, Russian Seasons was held in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Brazil will be this year's host of the event.