A photography exhibition in Baku “Not All of Them. Portraits of Refugees”, highlights experiences of Ukrainian refugees in Lithuania through black-and-white portraits as a cultural diplomacy initiative, bringing together Lithuania, Ukraine and Azerbaijan.
A new project linking Lithuania to Baku via Ukraine has opened in the Azerbaijan capital. Lithuania’s Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė was at the inauguration of the photography exhibition, which is dedicated to the human impact of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
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The purpose of “Not All of Them. Portraits of War Refugees”, is to bring together cultural diplomacy and personal storytelling through portrait photography.
Speaking at the opening, Ruginienė linked Lithuania’s experience of hosting Ukrainian refugees with broader regional solidarity, by stressing the importance of humanitarian support in times of conflict.
She said Lithuania’s society strongly understands the urgency of assisting those fleeing war, noting that many Ukrainians are now living in the country and that this reality has shaped public awareness.
“We had a lot of Ukrainians, who are living now in Lithuania and again here I can see the similarities between Azerbaijan and Lithuania.”
Ruginienė spoke about societies in both countries recognising the importance of helping people who are now living in a “very dangerous and very sensitive atmosphere, who are surviving, who are doing their best to keep the families, to keep the houses.”
She also underlined that Lithuania continues to provide this support, describing it as a long-term commitment, and emphasised that such solidarity is essential in today’s geopolitical environment.
Portraits of displacement through photography
The exhibition presents a series of black-and-white portraits depicting Ukrainian war refugees who have found temporary refuge in Lithuania.
The works were created by Lithuanian photographers Antanas Sutkus, Artūras Morozovas and Tadas Kazakevičius, forming a multi-generational artistic record of displacement.
The images aim to capture not only loss and trauma, but also dignity and resilience, offering an intimate visual narrative of lives reshaped by war.
Lithuania stresses cultural diplomacy and solidarity
Lithuania’s diplomatic mission in Baku, led by Ambassador Kęstutis Vaškelevičius, framed the exhibition as part of broader efforts to raise awareness of refugee experiences and reinforce international solidarity.
He said the initiative hosted at Khazar University reflects the importance of academic and cultural platforms in addressing humanitarian issues.
“Khazar University hosts this exhibition of Ukrainian refugees, which reminds the struggle of refugees.”
He added that such initiatives carry a forward-looking message.
“We have to show solidarity for these people, so these things never happen in the future,” he added.
Ukraine expresses gratitude and calls for continued support
The opening was also attended by Ambassador of Ukraine Yuriy Husyev, who highlighted the importance of international solidarity for displaced Ukrainians.
He expressed appreciation for the support provided by both Lithuania and Azerbaijan, stating: “We very much appreciate the support from republic of Lithuania and republic of Azerbaijan for our displaced persons.”
Looking ahead, he emphasised the role of continued cooperation in strengthening regional understanding, adding: “We will build bridges between South Caucasus and Ukraine.”
The exhibition reflects Lithuania’s broader use of cultural diplomacy to highlight humanitarian consequences of war while strengthening international dialogue.
It also reinforces ongoing people-to-people connections between Lithuania, Ukraine and Azerbaijan, framed through art, memory and shared experiences of displacement.
“Not All of Them. Portraits of War Refugees” is on at Khazar University until 30 April 2026.
