Oleg Berkovich checked the meme about the similarity between Nizhny Novgorod and Belgrade.

      On June 18, 2026, at 13:39, Culture and Leisure Deputy Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region Oleg Berkovich reported that he visited Belgrade during the week, stating the purpose of the trip as "to check the meme" that Nizhny Novgorod and the capital of Serbia are "the same city." The politician shared his impressions of the trip on his Telegram channel.

      Recall that last spring, an opinion spread on the internet about the similarities between the capitals of the region and another country. Both cities are located at the confluence of two rivers—Oka and Volga versus Danube and Sava, ancient fortresses are situated in the central part, and bridges and airports are built in remarkably similar locations. Additionally, in Belgrade, as in Nizhny Novgorod, there is a tram ring line No. 2, the Serbian district of Borča resembles Bor, and President Aleksandar Vučić and Mayor Yuri Shalabaev have obvious external similarities.

      During the trip, Oleg Berkovich held a meeting with the EXPO 2027 team. There is still a whole year until the opening of the international exhibition, but preparations are already underway. According to him, Russia will be represented at EXPO with a separate pavilion, and the Nizhny Novgorod region intends to use this platform for its promotion.

      As they say, we have a plan, and we are sticking to it: to tell the world about Nizhny Novgorod through culture, tourism, major events, and international projects, the deputy governor emphasized.

      The representatives of EXPO 2027 discussed the possibilities of including Nizhny Novgorod festivals, the International Biennale of Ecological Art, and other cultural initiatives in the exhibition program. As Oleg Berkovich noted, there is interest in such projects since the theme of sustainable development occupies an important place in the concept of the large-scale event.

      A meeting also took place in Belgrade at the Ministry of Tourism, where the parties discussed the prospects for mutual promotion of tourist destinations. According to Berkovich, the direct flight from Nizhny Novgorod to Belgrade shows good occupancy, and demand for this route is expected to grow.

      In addition, the deputy governor visited Novi Sad—a sister city of Nizhny Novgorod. There, the organization of Nizhny Novgorod Culture Days and the possibility of integrating them into the EXPO 2027 program were discussed to present the region "as brightly and modernly as possible."

      EXPO 2027 will feature more than 120 countries and millions of visitors from around the world. We need to make a beautiful presentation! the politician concluded.

      Earlier, we reported that actor Pavel Priluchny showed his wife Nizhny Novgorod's "Paris." NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on major events, exclusive materials, and timely information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod." When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+