Helsinki hosts exhibition on Nordic expatriates in the South Caucasus

The Helsinki Azerbaijan House organized an exhibition in Finland to showcase the historical and cultural ties between Finland and Azerbaijan.

The event occurred as part of a project titled Bridge from the Past to the Future, which focuses on the archival and museum collections of the Nobel brothers. Dmitri Frolov, a researcher at the University of Helsinki, presented academic content regarding the lives of Nordic expatriates in the South Caucasus during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The exhibition highlighted the work of the Nobel brothers and their company, Branobel, specifically focusing on their industrial impact in Baku and their social welfare initiatives. Attendees viewed archival documents and photographs that depicted the daily lives of Nordic residents in Baku and Tbilisi, as well as their contributions to education and healthcare. Emin Dadashov from the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan shared information about the museum's photographic collection.

He explained how combining photographic evidence with written records helps researchers make new historical discoveries. Kirsti Narinen, Finland's Roving Ambassador for the South Caucasus, stated that the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs plans to continue supporting such historical research to deepen the understanding of migration history between the two nations.