President Ilham Aliyev and other participants of the informal OTS Summit visited a number of cultural sites in Turkestan

On May 15, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, together with other heads of state participating in the informal Summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), visited the "Azret-Sultan" museum-reserve in the city of Turkestan.

As reported by BAKU.WS, the heads of state were briefed about the reserve. It was noted that the "Azret-Sultan" National Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve was established in 1989. The "Hall of Rare Exhibits" in the museum is one of Kazakhstan's significant museum and exhibition projects aimed at preserving and promoting the unique historical and cultural heritage of the medieval era. The exposition introduces visitors to the rich history of Turkestan, the spiritual heritage of the Turkic world, and unique artifacts associated with the mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi. Currently, the museum-reserve's collection contains more than 26,000 exhibits, of which approximately 80 percent are artifacts.

x x x

Subsequently, a visit was made to the mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi in Turkestan. It is one of the largest monuments of Islamic architecture in Central Asia and is recognized as a spiritual symbol of Kazakhstan. The mausoleum was erected in the late 14th century by the order of Emir Timur at the burial site of the outstanding Sufi poet and thinker Ahmed Yasawi. This complex, featuring a unified architectural design, houses more than 35 rooms serving various purposes. The mausoleum, which preserves unique artifacts, is considered one of the spiritual and cultural centers of the Islamic world.

{{gallery}}