India-Russia friendship cannot be changed by others, says Russian diplomat

India and Russia share a friendship that has withstood changes in the global geopolitical environment and cannot be altered by external forces, Russian Embassy spokesperson Petr Sizov has said, underlining the enduring relationship between the two countries ahead of the 80th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.

Speaking on the sidelines of a Russian cultural event at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi on Monday evening, Sizov said bilateral relations were built not merely on decades of diplomatic engagement but also on centuries of cultural and people-to-people connections.

“We are friends, and our friendship can't be, you know, changed by somebody else,” Sizov told PTI, emphasising the strength of the relationship despite shifts in international politics.

His remarks came as Russia prepared to organise a series of cultural programmes in India to commemorate eight decades of diplomatic relations between New Delhi and Moscow.

𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗰𝘆

Sizov traced the relationship between the two countries to exchanges that preceded their formal diplomatic engagement, citing the correspondence between Mahatma Gandhi and Russian novelist and philosopher Leo Tolstoy.

He recalled that Gandhi regarded Tolstoy as a teacher and exchanged letters with him despite the two never meeting in person.

According to the Russian diplomat, the correspondence demonstrated how intellectual and cultural connections had brought people from the two countries together long before the establishment of formal diplomatic relations.

Sizov said such historical interactions continued to provide a foundation for contemporary bilateral relations, extending beyond the engagement between governments.

He also pointed to the popularity of Indian cinema in Russia and Russian ballet in India as examples of cultural exchanges that had strengthened mutual understanding over generations.

𝗥𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗮 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮

As the two countries approach the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations, Russia is planning a series of musical performances, artistic presentations and other cultural activities across India.

Sizov said the programmes would celebrate the longstanding relationship while introducing Indian audiences to different aspects of Russian cultural heritage.

The planned events are expected to place particular emphasis on direct interaction between artists and audiences, reflecting Moscow's efforts to maintain cultural engagement alongside diplomatic cooperation.

Cultural exchanges have traditionally been an important element of India-Russia relations, with cinema, literature, music and performing arts providing opportunities for engagement outside formal political channels.

𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

Diana Alipova, wife of Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov, highlighted the role of cultural diplomacy in developing personal connections between people from different countries.

“Cultural relationship is important because culture goes to the public; you know, it's just like from one person to another person,” she told PTI.

Alipova said cultural exchanges were distinct from government-level interactions because they allowed people to engage directly with one another and develop a deeper understanding of different traditions.

She added that Russia was working closely with schools in Delhi to encourage younger Indians to participate in cultural programmes and experience Russian music and performing arts.

The initiative is intended to expand the audience for Russian cultural activities beyond those already familiar with the country's artistic traditions.

𝗥𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗵𝗶

The event at the India Habitat Centre featured performances by the Joint Choir of the Holy Trinity-St Sergius Lavra and the Moscow Theological Academy.

The choir presented Russian sacred choral music and traditional folk songs as part of Russia Culture Days, offering audiences an introduction to the country's musical heritage.

The performances formed part of ongoing cultural exchanges intended to strengthen connections between Indian and Russian communities.

The anniversary celebrations will provide another opportunity for the two countries to highlight the cultural foundations of their relationship, even as the international political environment continues to evolve.

The Russian Embassy's emphasis on historical friendship and people-to-people engagement reflects Moscow's stated intention to preserve and deepen its longstanding ties with India through cultural cooperation alongside diplomatic relations.