Azeris decided to dispute history. The exhibition organized by Smithsonian Institution of Washington titled “The Tsars and the East: Gifts from Turkey and Iran in The Moscow Kremlin” became the target of Azerbaijani mass media.

This exhibition features 15-17 cc. exceptional objects presented by Safavid and Ottoman kings to Russian tsars. The information of brochures and under the exhibits reads the presents of Safavid tsars (Shah Ismail 1) as “presents of Iranian Safavid rulers contributed to New Julfa Armenian governance”.

It is also mentioned that Armenian merchants were holding major outlets in New Julfa region. However Azeris were shocked to know that Safavid Empire was mainly populated by Armenians and there was no mention of Azerbaijani in the exhibition brochures.

New Julfa is located in North-West of Iran, at Nakhchivan border. Whereas Old Julfa is in Nakhchivan’s territory, where within last years Azeris destroyed all Armenian graves (with the crosses as a gravestone) to eradicate any reminders of Armenians living there.

The exhibition, lasting till September 13, 2009 is sponsored by “LUKOIL” Company, U.S.-Russia Business Council, U.S.-Russia Chamber of Commerce and organized by Moscow Kremlin Museum, Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and Smithsonian Institution.