IN ASTANA, AN INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM DEDICATED TO THE CIVILIZATION OF THE GOLDEN HORDE IS BEING HELD: RARE ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTS, MANUSCRIPTS, AND UNIQUE ARTIFACTS ARE BEING PRESENTED TOGETHER IN A SINGLE EXHIBITION SPACE FOR THE FIRST TIME

On May 19, 2026, the opening ceremony of the International Symposium titled “Golden Horde - an example of field civilization: history, archeology, culture, uniqueness” was held in Astana under the auspices of UNESCO. As part of the symposium, an exhibition was also inaugurated, bringing together for the first time in one space rare archaeological artifacts, manuscripts, and international archival documents related to the history of the Golden Horde.

At the official opening ceremony, welcoming remarks were delivered by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, His Excellency Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Addressing the participants of the event and representatives of international organizations, the Head of State emphasized that the Golden Horde had been a major political power connecting East and West, and that this historical fact is indisputable. The President noted that the relevance of comprehensive studies of this heritage will never lose its significance and also expressed gratitude to the leadership of UNESCO for supporting Kazakhstan’s initiatives.

President Tokayev also expressed confidence that the current unique symposium would provide new momentum for the systematic study of world historical and cultural heritage, particularly highlighting the valuable contribution of the scholars and experts participating in the event toward achieving this noble goal.

Among the distinguished speakers were: Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre Lazare Eloundou Assomo; State Secretary of the Kyrgyz Republic Arslan Koichiev; Minister of Culture of the Republic of Tatarstan Irada Ayupova; President of the «La France s’engage» Foundation Audrey Azoulay; President of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences Demberel Sodnomsambuu; and President of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Ayupov.

Within the framework of the symposium, during the second session titled “The Material and Spiritual Cultural Heritage of the Golden Horde: Artifacts, Written and Oral Sources, and Interactions along the Silk Road,” a presentation was delivered by the President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, Professor Aktoty Raimkulova.

In her speech, Professor Aktoty Raimkulova spoke about the Foundation’s large-scale activities aimed at preserving, restoring, and promoting the rich cultural heritage of the Turkic World on the international stage. She noted that over the past two years, the Foundation has successfully implemented more than 140 projects - ranging from modern digitalization initiatives and unique scientific research programs to restoration, documentation, and academic exchange projects.

The President of the Foundation emphasized that, in response to contemporary challenges, the organization actively integrates global trends, advanced technological solutions, and digital innovations into the preservation of historical heritage, while continuing its activities to strengthen cultural diplomacy at an entirely new level.

The symposium and exhibition became an important international platform for the objective and scholarly re-evaluation of the heritage of the Golden Horde, as well as for the first presentation of unique archival materials to the global public.