Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, sent congratulatory messages to the leaders of Iran, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan on the occasion of Nowruz.
Among the countries that the Kremlin announced had received congratulatory messages, Afghanistan was not included.
Putin sent messages to Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, and Masoud Pezeshkian, the President of Iran. He wished that the people of Iran could successfully overcome “difficult tests” and emphasized that during this “challenging” time, Moscow remains a “loyal friend and reliable partner” for Tehran.
The Russian President also sent congratulatory messages to the heads of the Central Asian countries and Azerbaijan. According to the Kremlin, these messages highlighted the “high level” of bilateral relations. Putin also expressed confidence that multilateral and mutually beneficial relations with these countries would continue to develop successfully in the future.
Nowruz is one of the most important historical celebrations in Afghanistan and is also observed in countries such as Iran, Pakistan, Central Asia, Iraq, and beyond.
Every year, Nowruz used to be widely celebrated in Afghanistan. However, the Taliban, with a strict interpretation of Islamic law, have declared this ancient festival “forbidden” and have prevented its celebration.The Taliban leader, who had issued a congratulatory message on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, remained silent regarding Nowruz.
