OREANDA-NEWS. On May 24, 2007 a presentation ceremony was held in Astrakhan for the Wedding Palace, which has been restored by the SOGAZ Insurance Group as part of the national program of support and restoration for Russia’s cultural heritage, reported the press-centre of SOGAZ. 

Among the participants in the event were A. A. Zhilkin, Governor of the Astrakhan Region; A. I. Leonenko, Deputy Chairman of the SOGAZ Insurance Group; S. A. Bozhenov, the Mayor of Astrakhan; A. B. Klykanov, Chairman of the Astrakhan Region Duma; heads of various state institutions, major banks and industrial enterprises from within the region; and representatives of the city’s leading media.

In his speech to those present, Aleksei Leonenko, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the SOGAZInsurance Group, noted that the opening of a restored Wedding Palace was a significant event, not just for the Astrakhan Region, but for the whole country. “We are doing everything possible to preserve Russia’s precious treasures, of which the Astrakhan Wedding Palace is undoubtedly one”, said Mr. Leonenko. “It is not simply an outstanding piece of architecture, but one of the symbols of Astrakhan”.

The Wedding Palace building (which housed the city’s trade and commerce exchange until 1918) was built in 1910 in the colonial Moorish style, unusual for Astrakhan. The palace’s luxurious halls are characterised by their rich decoration, where bronze, stucco mouldings, crystal chandeliers and mirrors in particular stand out. The palace is situated in one of the most picturesque areas of the city, at the confluence of the Volga and Kutum rivers, and, as such, is quite rightly considered one of Astrakhan’s main sights.

SOGAZ hasalso donated an extra present to the citizens of Astrakhan – a light fountain, intended to decorate the area adjacent to the Wedding Palace.

The SOGAZ Insurance Group considers charity work to be one of its key social activities. Since May 2006, the Group has been contributing to the national project of support and restoration for Russia’s cultural heritage, within the framework of which it has helped to raise funds for the restoration of historic sites, architectural monuments and works of art all over the country. All of the projects chosen by SOGAZ have a high artistic value, and are considered objects of worldwide cultural significance.