Culture Ministry clarifies private status of closed Simurq library in Lachin

Azerbaijan's Ministry of Culture provided the entire book collection for the "Simurq" library in Lachin, but the venue operated as a private initiative rather than a state institution before halting operations last week, Deputy Culture Minister Farid Jafarov said during a meeting with publishers and writers.

Jafarov addressed public misconceptions regarding the facility's ownership, emphasizing that state support was limited to enriching its catalog under existing legislative frameworks for private reading spaces.

The library was launched two years ago under Baku Abadlig Xidmati during urban rehabilitation efforts in the Lachin district. The municipal service company confirmed that it concluded its management support after fulfilling its operational mandate, noting that decisions on the site's future or book relocation rest with relevant state agencies.