The state reception in Baku, hosted at the Golestan Palace to honor the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin, showcased a menu that blended traditional Azerbaijani flavors with formal hospitality. The dishes highlighted a connection to regional culinary heritage, featuring eggplant Kutaby, Lyavangi, goat roasted in a tandoor, and fried river trout served with potatoes. These selections were reported by RIA Novosti as part of the evening’s program.
Guests also enjoyed a spread that included black caviar, fried eggplant salad, fried dyushbara, the traditional cold soup airanashi, stuffed vine leaves prepared with pistachios, and grape leaves, along with a selection of national confections. The presentation of food reflected a careful approach to balancing luxury and local flavors for a high-profile diplomatic audience, as noted in the coverage.
Drinks for the reception featured Meysari Makhmari wines from the 2020 harvest and Savalan Sauvignon Blanc wines from the 2022 harvest, chosen to accompany the meal and offer a distinctly regional profile. These beverage choices were part of the broader celebration of cultural and economic ties during the visit, reported by sources covering the event.
The timeline of the visit shows Putin arriving in Baku on August 18 for a state visit. On August 19, negotiations between the two presidencies continued in a narrow-format session at the Zagulba residence, located about 40 kilometers from the capital. The discussions focused on bilateral and regional topics and reflected ongoing dialogue between the two nations during this state engagement.
During the talks, the Russian leader expressed thanks for the invitation and emphasized that the arrangement of the visit had been under consideration for some time. There was recognition from the Russian side of Azerbaijan’s interest in preserving and promoting the Russian language within the country, a note highlighted by several briefings on the event.
President Aliyev described the talks as addressing bilateral and regional issues, underscoring the intent to strengthen cooperation across multiple domains. The discussions also touched on educational and cultural initiatives as part of broader collaboration, including plans for a joint educational institution in Baku that would bear a Russian-Azerbaijani affiliation, framed as a university project aimed at fostering academic and cultural ties.