Yelena Gagarina, director of the Kremlin museums, Russia's ambassador to Brazil Vladimir Tyurdenev, Sao Paolo mayor Jose Serra, and members of the cultural elites of Russia and Brazil attended the opening ceremony.
"This is the first time that the Kremlin's invaluable treasures will be demonstrated in Brazil," Viktor Mirshapko, the Brazilian sponsor of the exhibition, told RIA Novosti over the telephone. "Negotiations to arrange the display have been conducted for several years," he said. "The exhibition has become possible largely due to the efforts of the Brazilian embassy in Moscow and its Cultural Attache Elizabeth-Sophie Balsa, who suggested the idea of the exhibition."
The exhibits from the Armoury, the Diamond Collection and other Kremlin treasuries have arrived in Brazil on two aircraft.
The exhibition will last two months with free admission for all. "This is a stupendous event in relations between the two countries," Mirshapko emphasized. "Until now Brazil has not seen such invaluable historic exhibits, which will include world-famous Faberge Easter eggs. We are happy that Brazil can at last fully appreciate the masterpieces of Russian culture."
