On February 8 the Embassy of Russia in Islamabad hosted a lively gorodki tournament that drew ambassadors, diplomats and staff from the missions of Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. The event, held ahead of Russian Diplomats’ Day, offered a rare opportunity for the diplomatic community in Pakistan to mix sport, culture and informal exchange.
The friendly competition produced spirited play and close matches, with team Belarus winning first prize, team Tajikistan taking second place and Kyrgyzstan finishing third. Guests enjoyed traditional Russian hospitality and cuisine after the matches, using the occasion to strengthen ties among resident missions in Islamabad while celebrating a shared cultural pastime.
In his opening remarks Ambassador Albert P. Khorev highlighted milestones in Russian diplomacy and cited prominent figures such as Karl Nesselrode, Alexander Gorchakov, Grigory Chicherin, Viacheslav Molotov, Andrey Gromyko, Yevgeny Primakov and Sergey Lavrov. He underlined the growing importance of the diplomatic profession amid current geopolitical tensions and congratulated employees of Russian diplomatic missions on their professional holiday. The dean of the diplomatic corps, Turkmenistan’s Ambassador to Pakistan Atajan Movlamov, noted historical commonalities among the participating countries and joined in congratulating Russian diplomats.
The gorodki tournament combined sport and cultural outreach, showcasing how a traditional game can serve as a platform for diplomacy in Islamabad and reinforcing the role of informal events in building relationships between missions in Pakistan. The focus on the gorodki tournament underscored the embassy’s efforts to promote cultural exchange alongside official diplomatic engagement.
