Baku:First Vice-President of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva attended a performance of Anton Chekhov’s play “The Seagull,” presented by the Maly Drama Theatre – Theatre of Europe from St. Petersburg, Russia, at the Azerbaijan State Academic Musical Theatre. The event was part of the Baku International Arts Festival (BIAF 2026).
According to Azeri-Press news agency, the performance, attended by Mehriban Aliyeva alongside her daughter Leyla Aliyeva and Alena Aliyeva, was directed by Lev Dodin, a recipient of several prestigious Russian theatre awards including the Golden Mask. The production is acclaimed as one of the most notable interpretations of Chekhov’s classic play.
The set and costume design for the production was crafted by Alexander Borovsky. The cast featured Sergey Kuryshev, People’s Artist of Russia, along with Honored Artists Elizaveta Boyarskaya and Igor Chernevich, among others.
This marks the second edition of the Baku International Arts Festival, which will continue until November 8. Organized with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Culture, BIAF 2026 includes over 20 events such as concerts, ballet and theatre performances, film screenings, and more. The festival gathers artists and creative ensembles from Azerbaijan, the United Kingdom, Israel, Canada, Russia, the United States, France, and other countries.