Ashgabat, 23 January 2026 – The United Nations in Turkmenistan has hosted a solemn ceremony in observance of the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust organized by the Embassy of the State of Israel. The event, brought together the diplomatic community, government partners, representatives of cultural and religious communities, and UN agencies.

The event, held at the UN Building in Ashgabat, forms part of the global observance of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, annually marked on 27 January, the day when Auschwitz was liberated in 1945. The ceremony underscored the international community’s responsibility to remember the victims of the Holocaust and reaffirm collective commitment to human rights, dignity, and peace.

The programme opened with lighting of a memorial candle in memory of the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust, followed by a minute of silence.

Opening the ceremony, UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan, Mr. Dmitry Shlapachenko, emphasized that remembrance is not only about the past, but also a call to action today.

He highlighted this year’s global theme, “Holocaust Remembrance for Dignity and Human Rights”, stressing that preserving the historical truth of the Holocaust is essential in confronting antisemitism, denial, hate speech, and discrimination in all its forms.

He noted that the UN system globally has strengthened its efforts, including through the United Nations Action Plan to Enhance Monitoring and Response to Antisemitism, and reiterated the UN’s commitment in Turkmenistan to promoting education, respectful dialogue, and tolerance.

The ceremony featured messages from members of the diplomatic community, including:

• Mr. Andrew Berdy, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of the United States;
• Mr. Bernd Heinze, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany;
•  Mr. Ismail Khaldi, Ambassador of the State of Israel , who delivered concluding remarks.

Ambassador Khaldi thanked Turkmenistan’s Foreign Ministry representatives, fellow ambassadors, diplomats, and members of the Jewish community for attending the Holocaust Remembrance Day event, acknowledging earlier speakers for their powerful remarks. He paid tribute to Nili Azriel, a central figure in Ashgabat’s Jewish community and a longtime partner in organizing the commemoration, honoring her memory.

He recalled the UN General Assembly’s 2005 declaration of January 27 as the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, noting that despite hopes for a world guided by “Never again” and “Never forget,” antisemitism continues to rise more than 80 years after the Holocaust. He stressed that Jews are still being attacked simply for who they are, and that hatred based on nationality, religion, skin color, or belief is unjustifiable and condemned by all humane societies and religions. He cited the Quran to emphasize respect and constructive engagement with others.

The ambassador highlighted the moral courage of diplomats who saved Jews during the Holocaust, including Raoul Wallenberg, Chiune Sugihara, Frank Foley, Carl Lutz, and Iranian diplomat Abdol Hossein Sardari, who helped save thousands of Jews in Paris. Their actions, he said, demonstrate that if hatred is not confronted collectively, it will spread beyond Jews to other minorities everywhere.

He concluded by emphasizing the shared responsibility to promote peace, trust, and dialogue, expressing appreciation for Turkmenistan’s commitment to these values, and calling for hope and prayer for a future grounded in mutual respect and peaceful coexistence.

The United Nations Resident Coordinator concluded that remembrance must be paired with commitment: “Each generation carries the responsibility to reject hatred, protect human dignity, and defend universal human rights. Our shared duty is to remember—today and every day.” ///nCa, 23 January 2026 (in cooperation with UN Turkmenistan/Embassy of Israel)

Here are some photos from the event: