FIRST ANNUAL RUSSIA DAY IN CHICAGO

 

 

CHICAGO (June 23, 2011) – More than 300 guests joined the Moscow Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International for the First Annual Russia Day in Chicago at the Chicago Cultural Center on Monday, June 13. This is the first time the city of Chicago formally celebrated Russia Day – Russia’s Independence Day – which is observed on June 12 to commemorate the day in 1990 when the Russian Parliament formally declared sovereignty over Russia.

His Excellency Sergey Kislyak, Ambassador of Russia to the United States, was the guest of honor at the event. While in town, the Ambassador met with the Moscow Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International and the Mayor’s Office of International to discuss future collaboration between the City of Chicago and its Sister City in Moscow since 1997.

Aleksandra Efimova, Russian Pointe and Co-Chair of the Moscow Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International with His Excellency Sergey Kislyak.

Aleksandra Efimova, president of Russian Pointe and co-chair of the Moscow Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International, served as the event’s emcee.

The evening featured performances by the Golosa Choir; Ian Maksin, famed Russian cellist and composer; Heather Aranyi, Opera Soprano; the Joffrey Academy of Dance and the Russian Cathedral Ensemble.

Russia Day was made possible through the generous support of TMK IPSCO, NLMK Indiana, Russian Pointe, AAR, BIRG and MELTSER Law Firm, Geneva Seal Fine Jewelry and Timepieces, Severstal, Ubu Fine Art Gallery and Baker & Mckenzie.

Russia Day Platinum Sponsors with the Ambassador: Princess Maria-Anna Galitzine, Prince Piotr Galitzine, TMK IPSCO, Alexander Tseitlin, NLMK Indiana, Natalia Zhidkova, NLMK Indiana, His Excellency Sergey Kislyak, Sergey Kuznetsov, Severstal, and Natalia Kuznetsov, Severstal.